Monthly Muse

The Classics Abroad

                From the Olympic Games to the important and decisive military battles the ancient Greek army faced, the Culture of the Ancient Greek City extended study course provides one with a well-rounded background of the history, culture, and influence in today's world through text, images, and discussions before setting out to explore the city for three weeks this summer (2015). Taught by Professor Rebecca Ammerman, the course allows students to focus on two topics they choose to research during the semester and then present while abroad on site. The students become tour guides for their classmates as they dictate where they want their peers to focus their attention when presenting at locations such as the Acropolis, Marathon, Epidaurus, and Delphi. While the deadline for this spring/summer has passed, there are still plenty of opportunities to travel with the Classics Department. The Department alternates each year between a trip to Greece and a trip to Rome, the courses are similar in workload and general layout of research topics presented on site while abroad. So if you can't wait another year for your gyro, you can enjoy pasta, pizza and gelato with the Classics Department through the course Private and Public Life and the Material Culture of Rome, which focuses on the dynamic rulers and grand architectural and cultural structures the Romans have left behind. Both extended studies require completion of either Latin 122 (Rome) or Greek 121/122.