Ancient Voices, Modern Mosaics, and New Perspectives

The Annual Latin Colloquium at Friends Seminary is a meaningful celebration of both scholarly depth and creative expression. Now a longstanding tradition, the Colloquium offers Upper School Latin students the opportunity to present their academic research and original work to peers and faculty—an experience that mirrors the formal colloquiums of collegiate classical studies and elevates the role of student scholarship in our community.

This year, Latin V and Advanced Latin students undertook a rich exploration of Roman self-representation in texts and artifacts—studying speeches, letters, art, and mythologies. In doing so, they examined how ancient people constructed identity and legacy, while drawing personal connections between classical themes and their own lives. 

Christel Johnson, Chair of the World Languages Department, emphasized the academic importance of this public forum: “The Latin Colloquium is modeled on those I participated in as an undergraduate and graduate student. It’s a high-pressure environment that prepares students for defensive scholarship. They learn not just to write well, but to speak about their thinking and research with confidence.”

Among the year’s culminating projects was a unit focused on mosaics, an art form emblematic of the Roman world. Students investigated how mosaics are used as public art in modern-day New York—particularly within the subway system—and created bilingual portfolios that included Latin queries, artist research, and text-based analysis. Inspired by their findings, each student then created a personal mosaic using glass, tile, fabric, paper, string, stone, and other found materials, accompanied by a written artist’s statement reflecting their process and intent. Click here to view the full Creative Portfolio.

Reflecting on the work, Associate Head of School Devan Ganeshananthan shared, “The way students engaged with texts—not just translating or analyzing, but interpreting them through art, emotion, and lived experience—was beautiful to see. The project gave them the tools and the space to connect with ancient voices and then add their own.”

In every aspect, the Latin Colloquium embodies the mission of the Department of World Languages: Ancient and Modern, which affirms that “the acquisition of a language is the ultimate gesture of friendship to the world.” By learning Latin, students are equipped not only with linguistic and analytical tools, but with a deeper understanding of human expression across time. Through their studies, they gain the ability to engage in meaningful inquiry and cultivate a sense of world citizenship—communicating across cultures, across centuries, and across disciplines.

At Friends, the study of Latin is not simply about decoding a language long past. It is a living exercise in empathy, creativity, and connection—one that empowers students to find their voices in the enduring conversations between past and present.