Untitled - Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich

Mythology in the Painted Hall 3
Greek mythology in the Painted Hall 4
Before the workshop 4
Myths and masks workshop outline 5
Pre- and post-visit activities 5
Map of the site with key locations 6
How to get to us 6
Coach information 7
Pre-visits and site opening times 7
Accessibility 7
Cancelling your visit 7
Meeting point 8
Behaviour 8
Running late 8
Facilities – lunch space, toilets, our shop 8
Risk assessment and supervision 9
In an emergency and first aid 9
Equipment and insurance 9

MYTHS AND MASKS TEACHERS' PACK PAGE 3
Artist Sir James Thornhill’s designs include numerous
mythological figures throughout the Painted Hall. The most
concentrated area is on the ceiling in the lower hall. This oval
area shows The Triumph of Peace and Liberty over Tyranny.
The painting shows the Protestant monarchs William III and
Mary II liberating Europe from the tyranny of the Catholic King
of France, Louis XIV. William tramples on the French King,
receives the olive branch from Peace and hands the red cap of
liberty to Europe. The English monarchs are enthroned in
heaven, surrounded by the Virtues. Above them, Apollo drives
the chariot of the Sun. This provides the light source for the
painting and draws attention to William and Mary under the
canopy.
At the bottom of the oval are Athena and Heracles expelling
the vices from heaven. Medusa the gorgon is also pictured
here.
James Thornhill painted the different seasons and the signs of
the Zodiac around the oval. The seasons are also personified
by Greek figures, for example, Dionysus represents autumn.
Outside the oval area, in the four corners of the lower hall, four
gods and goddesses represent the elements of fire, air, earth
and water. Zeus is associated with fire, Hera with air, Demeter
with the earth and Poseidon with water. Artemis, goddess of
the moon, also appears next to the Spanish galleon on the east
end of the lower hall.
Poseidon, the god of the sea, appears several times
throughout the Painted Hall. This is not surprising since the
Painted Hall was designed for old and injured sailors, and they
would identify most with this particular god. In the upper hall he
appears twice, once meeting William of Orange at Torbay on
the south wall, and secondly on the ceiling. Hera with her
peacock also appears on the ceiling next to Zeus in his flowing
gold cloak, with Heracles above. On the west wall Hermes,
messenger to the gods, points to an inscription referring to the
new royal dynasty painted below: the Hanoverians.

MYTHS AND MASKS TEACHERS' PACK PAGE 4
Artist Sir James Thornhill was following the continued interest in
the classical world which began in Renaissance Europe. Greek
society, including its art and culture, was seen by educated
people in the 14th and 15th centuries as the pinnacle of
enlightened learning and knowledge, so a display of artworks in
the Greek or Roman style were a way of reinforcing your own (or
your patron’s) knowledge and sophistication, and were designed
to impress. In addition, the Greek stories were familiar to many.
Because the characters involved always appear in artworks with
their particular symbols, they were easily recognisable even to
those who were unable to read and write.
Before the workshop, you may wish to discuss the following areas with your class:
• Who were the ancient Greeks and where did they live?
• What did they invent? (Olympic games, drama, words we still use today.)
• Which gods did the ancient Greeks worship and why?
The following characters will be highlighted in the Painted Hall.
It may be useful to introduce them to your class before your visit.
• Zeus – king of the gods.
• Hera – queen of the gods, goddess of marriage and childbirth.
• Apollo – god of light, music, healing and prophecy.
• Poseidon – god of the sea.
• Athena – goddess of wisdom, arts and crafts and warfare.
• Medusa – gorgon.
• Heracles/Hercules – superhuman hero.
• Hermes – messenger to the gods.

MYTHS AND MASKS TEACHERS' PACK PAGE 5
In this lively storytelling session led by a member of the ORNC
learning team, children will investigate the gods, goddesses,
monsters and heroes that appear in the Painted Hall.
This session links directly to both the study of Ancient Greeks in
history and Myths and Legends in Literacy.
A drama extension activity is available for this Workshop. Please
contact the learning team for more information.
The aim of this session is to engage pupils with the Greek
characters and stories depicted in the Painted Hall and to use
this as inspiration to create a mask.
The first part of the workshop is a storytelling and role play
session that explores the myths behind some of the Greek
characters depicted in the Painted Hall. Pupils will then each
make a mask of a Greek character they have learnt about during
the session.
History, art and design, drama, literacy.
Pre and post-visit activities and materials are available to
download via our website. Online resources

MYTHS AND MASKS TEACHERS' PACK PAGE 6
By Docklands Light Railway: From Bank, Tower Gateway,
Stratford, Beckton, Woolwich and Lewisham to Cutty Sark for
Maritime Greenwich.
By London Underground: Take the Jubilee Line to Canary Wharf
or Heron Quays and change to the Docklands Light Railway.
By Rail: From Charing Cross, Waterloo East, Cannon Street and
London Bridge to Greenwich.
By River: Greenwich is just four miles downstream from Tower
Bridge. Regular riverboat services are now available from
Westminster, Embankment and Tower Piers to Greenwich.
Thames Clipper run an express service with a boat every
20 minutes.
By Car: From the M25 via the A2 or M11/A12 Blackwall Tunnel.
Car parking Park Row and Cutty Sark Gardens.
By Bus: Buses 129, 180, 177, 286, 199 pass near the Old Royal
Naval College.

MYTHS AND MASKS TEACHERS' PACK PAGE 7
Coaches are not permitted to drop off or park on site. Please use either the public car
park along Park Row at the east end of the site, or the bus stop along King William
Walk at the west end of the site, to drop off and pick up. Please note that King
William Walk is a very busy stretch of pavement.
See below for Greenwich coach parking. Contact Greenwich Tourist Information on 0870
608 2000 for more information.
Greenwich (Stockwell Street, Greenwich, SE10 9JN)
5 bays. Free, max stay 20 mins (no return within 1 hour)
Operational, 0900 - 1700 Mon-Sat, 0900 - 1800 Sun.
Greenwich (Norman Road, Greenwich, SE10 9QB)
3 bays. Free. Check local signs for operational hours and details.
Greenwich Park (Charlton Way, Blackheath, SE3)
Free, max stay 4 hours. Check local signs for operational hours.
Greenwich (Park Row/ Romney Road, Greenwich, SE10 9NL)
1 bay. Paid. Check local signs for operational hours and details.
If you would like to arrange a pre-visit with a member of the learning team please
contact us on 020 8269 4711, 020 8269 4715 or email learning@ornc.org
If you would like to carry out a pre-visit independently, Discover Greenwich,
the Painted Hall and Chapel are open daily from 10am to 5pm.
If you of your class have any accessibility needs or requirements please inform the
learning team so any necessary preparations can be made for you where possible.
You may also wish to view the getting around the site section of our website.
If you need to cancel or rearrange your visit please contact the learning team on
020 8269 4711 or 020 8269 4715 as soon as possible.
Please note that if you are cancelling a costumed actor interpreter session (A day
in the life of a Greenwich Pensioner, Tudor Study Day) less than one month in
advance, a cancellation fee of £130 will be incurred.

MYTHS AND MASKS TEACHERS' PACK PAGE 8
On the day please bring your class/es to the meeting point detailed in your
confirmation letter. This will either be Discover Greenwich or the Painted Hall.
You may find it helpful to print a copy of the site map in the Planning Your Visit
section of this pack.
Adults accompanying students are responsible for the behaviour of the group at all
times, particularly in Discover Greenwich or when undertaking a self-led trail of the
site. Please brief the students before their visit on how they are expected to behave.
Please emphasise that we share this site with many other members of the public.
If you are running late please contact the learning team on:
020 8269 4711 or 020 8269 4715
Our Clore learning Centre opened in March 2010 with generous
support from the Clore Duffield Foundation. It is a light, airy and
flexible learning space and is fully accessible by lift.
You can book a lunch space with us, or if the weather is nice you
may wish to sit out in the beautiful grounds of the Old Royal
Naval College.
There are public toilets located in the undercrofts beneath the
Painted Hall, the Chapel and in the Discover Greenwich centre.
You may wish to bring both male and female members of staff
or adult helpers to accompany pupils to the toilet.

MYTHS AND MASKS TEACHERS' PACK PAGE 9
We carry out risk assessments on all our activities. Our risk assessments show that
our activities present a very low risk to participants. If you would like help with your
risk assessment and planning your visit please contact us. We are happy to arrange
pre-visits to the site.
All school groups visiting the site must be supervised at all times, including
lunchtimes. The minimum ratios must be maintained at all times.
For Key Stage 1 visits a minimum ratio of 1 adult per 6 students must be
maintained.
For Key Stage 2 visits a minimum ratio of 1 adult per 8 students must be
maintained.
For Key Stage 3 and 4 visits a minimum ration of 1 adult per 10 students
must be maintained.
In an emergency please follow the instructions given to you by the member of the
learning team leading the workshop. If you are doing a self-led exploration of the site,
please follow any instructions given to you by members of the Old Royal Naval
College staff.
Some members of the Old Royal Naval College staff are trained in first aid, however we
cannot always guarantee a first aider will be available. Please refer to your school policy
regarding a school first aider accompanying your visit.
All equipment provided by the Old Royal Naval College has been risk assessed and
presents a very low risk of accident.
The Old Royal Naval College has public liability insurance. If you need further details
please contact us.