Recent presence in London afforded us the opportunity to attend a fascinating lecture at Gresham College.
Gresham College, founded in 1597, is London’s oldest higher education institution, providing free public lectures to the city.
Its origins lie with Sir Thomas Gresham, a prominent 16th-century Mercer, merchant and financier, who left his estate to the City of London to establish a college where lectures would be freely available to the public.
This historical connection takes on an added layer of interest when we consider the broader historical tapestry. Thomas Gresham’s legacy intertwines, with that of Sir Rowland Hill. who was a close friend of Sir John Gresham, uncle of Thomas. All were prominent Tudor figures in the City of London.
This particular lecture, “Divine Law, Human Prophet: Moses in Hebrew and Greek,” by Professor Melissa Lane, explored the intriguing comparisons made by ancient Jewish authors between Moses and Greek lawgivers like Lycurgus and Solon. Professor Lane examined how these ancient thinkers, writing in Greek, bridged cultural divides and discussed topics like education, prophecy, and political rule. The lecture, part of the “Lawgivers in Political Imaginations” series, offered a compelling look at the enduring influence of these historical figures on political thought.
This theological topic would certainly have been of interest to polymath Sir Rowland Hill.
