The History of St. Petersburg. The Cultural Heritage of the Ancient World

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Lesson 1. Ancient Egypt. Sphinxes

Sphinx is the one of the best-known symbols of Ancient Egypt. Sphinxes are magic creatures, but are they kind or evil? Do people like them or are they afraid of the sphinxes? How did the sphinxes appear in St. Petersburg? What secrets do they keep? You will find the answers to these questions in lesson 1.

Lesson 2. Talking about the Past

When we talk about the past, we mostly use Past Simple. In Part 1 of lesson 2 we will look at the Past Simple of regular and irregular verbs. We will also learn to ask questions in Past Simple. In Part 2 we will practise dates and different time expressions that will make our story clear and interesting.

Lesson 3. Egyptian Style in Tsarskoye Selo

To admire Egyptian sphinxes, pyramids and obelisks, you do not need to travel to Egypt. You can see all these wonders in Tsarskoye Selo, a small town which was a summer residence of the Romanovs.

Lesson 4. Passive

To make our story natural and clear, we use different constructions. When we use Passive, we usually do not tell who did the action: the house was built in 2015. Passive is an easy way to focus on the object and details: was made of stone, was created in 1826, is decorated with reliefs. We often use Passive when we talk about ourselves: I was born in St. Petersburg; I am interested in art.

Lesson 5. Ancient India and China. Lions

St. Petersburg is a city of lions, but how many lions are there? Why are they so different? Why is a lion holding a ball? Are lions symbols of victory or defeat? Are they for decoration only? As you watch and listen, choose your favourite lion!

Lesson 6. Ancient India and China. Stone Animals

Monuments to animals look cute and heart-warming. However, they are not just decorations – they tell us about the history of the city and its people. In lesson 6 we are going to discover the meaning behind the best-known monuments to animals: cats, dogs, birds, hares, camels… You can also try to design your own monument to an animal.

Lesson 7. Ancient Greece. Architecture is Frozen Music

Greece was great. Ancient Greece was a small country, but its people had great ideas. Today, we still admire Greek sport, medicine, drama, politics, poetry and art. We call them classic. In lesson 7 we will discover three secrets of Greek architects and compare classic buildings in St. Petersburg with ancient examples.

Lesson 8. The Heavy Steps of the Roman Empire

The Roman Empire was one of the largest in history. The Empire style was heavy and impressive because it celebrated great victories of Roman emperors all over the Ancient world. Napoleon Bonaparte brought this style to France. After the Patriotic War of 1812, the Empire style became very popular in Russia. Buildings, arches and columns that decorate the central part of St. Petersburg were created in the Russian Empire style.

Lesson 9. The Antique Collections of the Hermitage

In lesson 9 we are talking about the Antique collections of the Hermitage: ceramics (Part 1) and sculpture (Part 2). Did the ancient craftsmen use the potter’s wheel? How did they make bronze statues? Have marble statues always been white? We will also learn where the name “Hermitage” comes from and who started collecting the works of art.

Lesson 10. The Last Day of Pompeii

“The Last Day of Pompeii” by Karl Bryullov is one of the greatest paintings of all times. It shows a tragedy of real people, but also their love and care about their families. It focuses on the classic beauty of the Ancient world that was forgotten in the Middle Ages. Everyone will find something personal in the painting, but we will also discover some real stories and names.

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