Ancient Rome and the Bay of Naples

  Italy

• Rome: 
Roma (Rome)

Term: Summer 
Dates: May 24 - June 19, 2009

Description: This summer institute allows students to experience first-hand the art and culture of ancient Rome and Italy. Emphasis will be on visiting sites occupied by the Greeks, Etruscans, and ancient Romans and on learning about their art and culture through museum visits and on-site lectures.

Day trips will include the Colosseum and Circus Maximus, where Romans were entertained by gladiatorial battles and chariot racing; the mammoth bath complexes in which workers bathed beside emperors in opulent surroundings; the buried city of Pompeii and nearby imperial villas, which allow visitors to wander the streets and re-live the day-to-day experiences of the ancients; and the island of Capri, where the emperor Tiberius built a pleasure palace from the cliffs of which he threw his enemies to their death in the sea below. Museum visits will include the Vatican Museum in Vatican City and the National Archaeological Museum in Naples, which contain items of interest from antiquity to the Renaissance and beyond.

In addition to reading about the historical and archaeological background of the locations we visit, students will be expected to report on-site about a monument or artwork of their choice.

Participation is limited to 15 students. We shall spend the first week of the institute in the Bay of Naples area, one of the most desirable sea-side destinations of the ancient Romans. Here the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. 79 preserved under lava and ash the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. While in the area we shall also visit the cave of the Cumaean Sibyl and the well-preserved Greek temples at Paestum.

We shall live the final three weeks in Rome. In addition to visiting sites in the city, we will be taking day-long excursions to visit the tombs of ancient Etruria, the ancient port-city of Ostia, and the ruins of Hadrians villa in Tivoli. Students will have most afternoons and evenings free to explore other aspects of this vibrant city, now the capital of Italy. Although the institutes focus is on antiquity (c. 700 B.C.-300 A.D.), by the time the institute draws to a close students will have been exposed to the highlights of nearly 3,000 years of history.

Highlights: Courses Offered

Students will enroll in TWO (2) of the following courses for a total of SIX (6) hours of KU credit, or in THREE (3) of the following courses for a total of NINE (9) hours of KU credit. Students selecting the six-hour option will be responsible for preparing one site-report and one paper 8-10 pages in length, due August 10, 2009. Students selecting the nine-hour option will be responsible for preparing two site-reports and one paper 12-15 pages in length, due August 10, 2009.

CLSX 240: Roman Literature and Civilization
(or CLSX 340: the Honors section)

CLSX 375: Studies in Roman Topography

CLSX 527 (or HA 537): Roman Archaeology and Art

HWC 600: Rome: Biography of a City

Classics 240/340 qualifies as a Humanities principal course in Literature and Arts.

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Cost in US$: Approximately $4,670

Tuition: Estimated tuition and fees for 6 credit hours (based on standard tuition rate): $1,239

Additional costs: Airfare, some meals, passport fees, books, and personal expenses.

Note
All dates, costs, and program information are subject to change due to fluctuations in the exchange rate or other reasons.

Experience Required: yes

Open to students from any accredited U.S. college or university. Minimum 2.5 GPA required (exceptions considered after submission of a petition). This program will include a significant amount of walking, and temperatures can sometimes be extremely hot in June. Therefore, participants must be in good health.

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Transcript
• Written Application