Exeter Celebrates Classics at Inaugural Quidquid Event

Shouts filled Thompson Gym as students lined up to challenge Classics Instructor Nicholas Unger, dressed in a traditional Roman chiton and wielding a mock sword, in gladiatorial combat. 

Upper and Kirtland Society (Latin Club) co-head Charlie Preston, in conjunction with Unger, hosted Exeter’s first ever “Quidquid,” an inter-scholastic Classics celebration, on Sunday. 

“Quidquid is the friendship within our school and the companionship between other schools, but it is especially the vision of Charlie,” Unger said. “I did not believe that Quidquid would come about, but he did not despair—he worked for the longest time and without ruin. Therefore we ought to applaud again.”

Preston explained the name of the event. “Quidquid is literally Latin for ‘whatever.’ We chose this name because when we were conceiving the idea, we really didn’t know what path we were going to take. It started as a joke, but it turned out to be a great collection of events,” he said. 

Latin students from Bedford High School, Exeter High School, Phillips Exeter Academy, Pinkerton Academy and St. Paul’s School gathered in Thompson Gym this past Sunday to host a number of booths. Activities at the event included gladiatorial combat, Roman board games, Classical trivia contest, ancient amulet-making, mythological face-painting, Latin tweets and the Graeco-Roman photo booth.

An especially popular activity was Gladiatorial Combat; Unger manned the booth, warding all who challenged him. Lower Kiesse Nanor described the action. “It’s fun to see the little kids frolicking about trying to fight Mr. Unger,” Nanor said. 

In addition to fun events, Quidquid also hosted a bake sale where Kirtland partnered with ESSO Ending 68 Hours of Hunger to create positive change in nearby neighborhoods. Ending 68 Hours of Hunger is a student led group that aims to provide food for under-resourced students in the Exeter area who do not have a reliable source of food.

To conclude the day, Exeter students performed “Miles Gloriosus,” a comedic play where supporting characters overthrow their hero. “Miles Gloriosus” roughly translates to “The Swaggering Soldier” and is the archetype of the arrogant soldier trope, whose ego becomes his downfall. 

Lower Ben Ehrman, who was an actor in the play, reflected on the preparation process. “It was a lot of work getting everyone coordinated to play their roles, but it was a lot of fun and the end result was a blast,” he said.

After seeing his great plans come to fruition, Preston reflected upon the success of the event, as well as how Classics has enhanced his Exeter experience. “Despite it being only my third year, Quidquid is my crowning achievement,” Preston noted. “They say that Latin is dead, but I say we still hold the torch for it. We’re upholding classical civilization and spreading the culture here today.”