Course Description:

The 2002 Roman Topography and Monuments seminar has at its aim an introduction and analysis of the general topography, primary monuments, artistic and architectural styles, and building techniques of the ancient urbs.  Although the focus of our investigations will be the city of Rome itself, we through a series of day trips (Ostia, Etruria, Tivoli, etc.) and one overnight visit to the south (Pompeii, Herculaneum, Paestum, the Museo Nazionale in Napoli) explore the extra-urban landscape of the world of Roman antiquity.  Most of the information you will need to know will be provided in class and during our site visits (for which you should always bring relevent texts [Claridge or the Blue Guide], a notebook, and suitable writing materials), and so absolutely consistent class attendance is a sine qua non for this course.

Course Information:

• The Latin 465 seminar will meet two mornings a week (generall, Monday and Wednesday) to visit various archaeological sites and museums within the city.  Unless otherwise indicated, we will leave for these 'walking tours' from the Pio Portone at 8:45 sharp, and so you should get there about five minutes early to go over the plan for the day.  On most days, we will return to the Pio by around 12:00 or 12:30.  It is absolutely mandatory that you attend every site tour, as there will be no 'review' trips to any of these locations.  Remember to come prepared to all of these site visits (cf. Kalendarium for further details); you are expected to have read all basic ('introductory') material before we leave for our site in the morning.

• The Latin 465 seminar will meet twice a week in the Pio classroom (Monday and Wednesday, from 3:00 to 4:30) to review and discuss the sites we have visited on those days and to look ahead to the sites we will visit later in the week.   You are expected to have read all assigned material by the beginning of the afternoon class for which it is due.

• On most Fridays, we will venture as a group outside the city to investigate the environs of Rome.  Most of these visits will be 'day trips,' but we have scheduled one 'overnight' journey (possibly even two nights) to the South.  Be advised that in the case of day trips, we will return to the city after most markets and stores have closed, and so you should plan ahead for any weekend food shopping you need to do (further details on this can be found in your green Program Handbook).

• During the course of the term, each student will present a twenty-minute in-field Site Report on one of our walking / day trips (cf. Kalendarium).  Details to follow. 

• There will be a Mid Term exam on 1 May, and a Final Exam on 4 June.