When Reading Comes Alive
One of the great joys of visiting museums with children is that they often ask the questions that matter most.
Yesterday, at Palazzo Altemps in Rome, my son Leonardo stopped in front of the Great Ludovisi Sarcophagus, a spectacular Roman relief depicting a fierce battle between Romans and Barbarians. The sculpture vividly conveys the chaos, violence, and human cost of war.
After studying the scene for a few moments, Leonardo turned to me and asked: “Why does Mars want war?”
It was a simple question, the one that opened the door to a much deeper conversation. Leonardo’s question was inspired in part by his recent reading of Basher History: Mythology: Oh My! Gods and Goddesses, one of many children’s books that have sparked his growing curiosity about history, science, and the wider world. The Basher series does a remarkable job of making complex subjects accessible, engaging, and thought-provoking for young readers. As a parent, one of the most rewarding moments is seeing a child connect something learned in a book to a work of art, a historical event, or a broader question about the world around them.
As we talked, I explained to Leonardo that for the Romans, Mars was not simply a god of war. He was also associated with courage, duty, protection, and the defense of the community. In many ways, he symbolized the responsibility to protect those we care about and the communities to which we belong.
That naturally led us to another question:
– How do societies distinguish between aggression and protection?
– Is a conflict a story of conquest, or of defense?
These are questions that history, law, ethics, and politics have wrestled with for centuries, and they remain just as relevant today.
What struck me most was that a museum visit became an opportunity not only to learn about ancient Rome, but also to discuss timeless questions about conflict, identity, responsibility, community, and peace.
Sometimes the most meaningful lessons do not come from the museum labels. They come from the curiosity of a child.
Thank you, Leonardo, for the question.
#Rome #PalazzoAltemps #AncientRome #History #Museums #Parenting #Education #Learning #LawAndSociety #FamilyMoments
Paolo Davide Farah, Paolo Farah