The Working Classicists Christmas Gift List 2024
It’s that time again! (don’t tell me it isn’t, it is, we just had Halloween). It’s time to talk about Christmas.
Even if you can’t bring yourself to start defrosting Mariah Carey and the thought of a mince pie in November turns your stomach, it is ALWAYS a good idea to get Christmas shopping out of the way before the mad rush (and price hikes) of late December. Don’t kid yourself that you’ll find something perfect at Tesco on Christmas Eve, instead, take a look at our wonderful selection of unusual goods for the history-lovers in your life.
We’ve split it into rough sections, so if you know roughly what you’re looking for, you can skip right there:
We’ve also avoided the usual suspects: no Amazon, no British Museum, nowhere we actively know has bad practices, No AI shite, nothing prohibitively expensive, and nothing glaringly obvious. We’re not sponsored by any of these and we don’t have affiliate links, so if you buy from this list we get shit all. You should still do it, though. If you fancy helping us run things here, you can always donate to us on Ko.fi for our eternal gratitude and some Christmas wishes. So without further ado, here’s our Classicist Gift Christmas List for 2024…
Homeware
Gift: Cicero cushion
Price: £20.99
Link: https://www.theliterarygiftcompany.com/products/cicero-library-cushion-cover
Description: You don’t have to be a Cicero fan to agree this particular quote is a mood.
Gift: Rome Skyline Tea Light Attachment
Price: £8.34
Link: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/634178354/rome-skyline-shadow-play-lantern-candle
Description: This nifty little metallic band goes around a tealight or candle to project a shadowy image of Rome’s most memorable monuments onto surrounding walls.
Gift: Kelmscott Aeneid Art Print
Price: £17.04 (or more, depending on size)
Link: https://www.redbubble.com/i/art-print/Kelmscott-Aeneid-by-TheCobra
Description: I don’t believe there is one room in the world that wouldn’t benefit from this incredibly detailed art print.
Jewellery
Gift: Pomegranate Collar Pins
Price: £12.00
Link: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1405345461/pomegrante-hades-and-persephone-greek
Description: A slightly subtle way of showing mythological knowledge, these sweet enamel collar pins evoke some of the most iconic classical imagery.
Gift: Laurel Wreath Necklace
Price: £31.50
Link: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1603082686/livia-leaf-necklace-in-gold-silver-high
Description: An elegant piece of jewellery that’ll make the recipient feel like a Greek god/goddess. The smaller size acts as a choker, while the larger is more of a traditional necklace.
Gift: Amphora Hoop Earrings
Price: £24.00
Link: https://www.platosfire.co.uk/shop/p/amphora-hoop-earrings-silver
Description: The whole of the Plato’s Fire website is packed with beautiful classics-themed jewellery, and well worth a browse, but you can’t go wrong with a pair of silver amphorae.
Bookish gifts
Gift: Sappho Bookmark
Price: £3.50
Link: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1464998980/sappho-poetry-lgbtq-bookmark
Description: A sweet and sentimental reminder of affection that fits perfectly between the pages of their favourite book.
Gift: Critical Ancient World Studies by Mathura Umachandran and Marchella Ward
Price: £36.99 (but also available as Open Access)
Description: Co-edited by our Working Classicist of the Year 2024, Marchella Ward, and the incredible Mathura Umachandran, this book will challenge and shake the foundations of our subject’s deep history. An important read for bringing the ancient world into the modern day.
Gift: Latin: or, The Empire of a Sign by Francoise Waquet
Price: £22.00
Link: https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/products/1749-latin
Description: A comprehensive look at the history and modernity of Latin from a unique perspective. This one is for the curious linguist in your life.
Crafty gifts
Gift: Greek Myth Snack Stickers
Price: £4.21 (for the set)
Link: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/897106672/greek-mythology-snack-stickers-food-and
Description: Cute and quirky stickers to adorn any Classicist’s journal.
Gift: Medusa Cake Mould
Price: £7.01 (or more depending on size)
Link: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1293197030/greek-mythology-medusa-cake-decorate
Description: You can use this for more than just cakes – candles, soaps, chocolates… whatever you’d like to cast in stone.
Gift: 3D Colosseum Puzzle
Price: £19.99
Link: https://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/acatalog/Revell-The-Colosseum-3D-Puzzle-RV00204.html
Description: We’ve all seen the Lego Colosseum and that’s all well and good if you can afford it, but for the rest of us, there’s this detailed 3D puzzle instead.
Wearables
Gift: Minoan Ceramics Tote Bag
Price: £15.84
Link: https://www.redbubble.com/i/tote-bag/Late-Minoan-Ceramics-by-flaroh/33184437.P1QBH
Description: You can customise this one any way you like, put it on a tshirt or a hoodie, even a bath mat – but we like this subtle cotton tote bag covered in Minoan magnificence.
Gift: Venus XL Eye and Face Palette
Price: £40.00
Link: https://limecrime.com/products/venus-xl-2-eyeshadow-palette
Description: I’ve personally been using this one for years, it’s got all you need for a gorgeous look worthy of any Classical beauty.
Gift: Minoan Octopus Jumper
Price: £41.06
Link: https://greekmythcomix-1-shop.fourthwall.com/en-gbp/products/minoan-octopus-black
Description: These adorable jumpers would make a cosy addition to any wardrobe this winter.
Consumables
Gift: Ancient Roman Spice Blend
Price: £8.95
Link: https://delli.market/products/vegeto-ancient-roman-vegetable-seasoning-spice-blend
Description: If you want to try one of our amazing ancient recipes, or just want to see what the Romans were doing with their food, this might be a great place to start.
Gift: Apollo Tea Blend
Price: £10.95
Link: https://www.wheeloffate.co.uk/products/rmc-tea?variant=46098502910237
Description: This soothing tea uses a herbal blend of lemon balm and calendula that would have been accessible even in the ancient world. There are other gods and goddesses to choose from, but we liked this one!
Gift: Ancient Egyptian Chocolate Slab
Price: £28.95
Link: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/511075050/egyptian-chocolate-giftancient
Description: You can personalise this one with your favourite ancient Egyptian iconography, or check out the Roman Chocolate Shield or Ancient Architecture Slab.
Toys and board games
Gift: The Iliad Illustrated Playing Cards
Price: £19.99
Link: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1300665260/the-iliad-playing-cards-hand-illustrated
Description: These gorgeous hand-illustrated cards are sure to be a festive hit.
Gift: Latin Scrabble
Price: £39.99
Link: https://www.board-game.co.uk/product/latin-scrabble/
Description: Yep, the full game of Scrabble, but in Latin. This is great for revision, expanding your vocabulary, or merely showing off.
Gift: Mythology Trivia Cards
Price: £11.00
Link: https://shop.ashmolean.org/collections/gifts-for-history-buffs/products/mythology-trivia-cards
Description: Test your knowledge and quiz your friends with this little box of more than 100 questions. Might come in handy over Christmas.
Video games
Gift: The Forgotten City
Price: £20.99
Link: https://store.steampowered.com/app/874260/The_Forgotten_City/
Description: A narrative-driven time loop adventure set in an ancient Roman city. We LOVE this one.
Gift: Hades II
Price: £24.99
Link: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1145350/Hades_II/
Description: Although roguelike dungeon-crawler Hades II is in Early Access, it’s already got rave reviews, saying its expanded and improved upon almost everything from the first game (which you can still buy here).
Gift: Raji: Prologue/ Raji: An Ancient Epic
Price: Free/ £20.99
Link: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1429740?snr=2_9_100000_
Description: A gorgeous adventure/ dungeon/ puzzler with beautiful art and music. Can’t believe it took us so long to find it, but are we ever glad we did! The first chapter, linked above, is FREE, and the full-price game can be found here.
