A Troy-mendous day of beauty and heroism-themed events was held during half-term at Haslemere Educational Museum.

It was linked to Haslemere’s British Museum Spotlight Loan Troy: Beauty and Heroism and entertained children on February 15.

In the morning there was a family event exploring the use of red and black figure pottery, and how many of the pots depict beautiful goddesses, such as Aphrodite and Helen, as well as heroes, such as Herakles and Achilles.

A four-year-old visitor who was inspired by the theme of heroes drew Captain America on the pot he made, creating a very contemporary parallel to the hero Achilles.

In the afternoon the museum held an Opera South workshop for children aged eight to 12, run by professionals from the world of opera.

This introduction to opera included details about what opera actually is, practical voice exercises and the opportunity to learn about the Trojan War through listening to arias referring to Troy sung by the Opera South singers.

The evening saw an Opera South production of arias associated with Troy and the themes of beauty and heroism. Tenor Jack Dolan and soprano Milly Forrest were accompanied on the piano by Mark Austin, with the selected pieces being introduced by James Hurley.

Among the excerpts the audience were treated to were Vallon sonore from Les Troyens by Berlioz and When I am laid in Earth from Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas as well as La donna e mobile from Verdi’s Rigoletto.

Education officer Kay Topping said: “The evening was quite magical, with the wonderful operatic voices filling our lecture hall – especially fitting as the room was once the music room when the building was a private house.”

Troy: Beauty and Heroism will be hosted at Haslemere Educational Museum until May 7 as part of the British Museum’s National Programmes. This touring exhibition follows on from the British Museum’s major exhibition, Troy: Myth and Reality. Through a competitive application process, Haslemere Museum was one of three UK venues picked for this Spotlight Loan. Book at www.haslemeremuseum.co.uk