Reading Latin & Discovering the Ancient History and Art History of Italy

Calder Classics invites students to join us for this online program in which language, art, and scholarship merge fluently in an atmosphere of intellectual freedom and interdisciplinary exchange. In all our online Reading Latin classes, students review Latin grammar and read the great authors of Latin literature while also exploring the historical and cultural treasures of ancient, Renaissance, and modern Italy.

Our Approach

Each session, students and their instructors read, translate and discuss Latin literature in an interactive environment. Given that participants join us from a variety of schools and academic backgrounds, we begin each class with a brief review of Latin grammar. We then analyze a selection of texts from both a grammatical and literary perspective, engaging in such topics as the significance of word choices, rhetorical devices, meter, and intertextuality. Students engage with aspects of art, literary traditions, and ancient history that relate to the themes of the Latin passages we read. Guided by our scholars who are highly trained in ancient studies, mythology, and history, we take students on virtual tours of the treasures of ancient Italy. Group discussions focus on the historical context and broader themes of classical culture in the Mediterranean Basin and will be integrated with the Latin curriculum. At least one year of reading original (or slightly adapted) Latin texts is required.

'“Journeys to the Underworld: Aeneid 6 and Odyssey 11”

This course is designed for dedicated upper-level students in Latin (rising high school juniors and seniors, recent grads/gap year students). Modeled after our amazing residential program in Tuscany, this online course addresses ancient texts that explore underworld narratives and prophecies: Latin students read Aeneid 6 — Aeneas’ famous landing in Italy, his meeting with the Sybil of Cumae, and his journey to the underworld; students also read Odyssey 11 in English, which tells of Odysseus’ νέκυια to hear the prophecy of Tiresias. Additional related texts may be read. The primary goal of this course is to advance students’ reading speed and comprehension of Latin syntax as well as to engage in discussions of the parallel texts. We investigate how Vergil appropriates Homer’s underworld, and how we understand Homer’s underworld, mediated through Vergil’s text. Dr. Bernstein, who leads this course, is a recent Ph.D. from Princeton, where she wrote her dissertation titled “Sites of Silence: Poetry at the Boundary in Vergil’s Aeneid.” In her paper, she examines how Vergil aligns the metaphor of liminal space and boundaries with the boundaries of speech and song in the Aeneid. Her ideas align beautifully with what you learn in this class.

In this class students explore such topics as the historical and archaeological context of the “Parade of Heroes” scene in Vergil’s underworld, comparing Augustus’ “summī virī” statues with the Aeneid text. Throughout the two weeks, students enjoy the opportunity to fuse their readings with vibrant visual representations as they analyze the influence of antiquity on artistic representations of underworld narratives.

June 26-July 7, “Journeys to the Underworld”. Upper Level. Taught by Dr. Frances Bernstein. Monday - Friday, 10:30am - 1pm (EDT). Course Fee: $1200. Apply.

“Roman Voices”

Exegi monumentum aere perennius; “I have finished a monument more lasting than bronze”, Horace writes in Ode 3.30. He suggests (and hopes) that his oeuvre will affect generations to come. What effect did voices like Horace’s have on our understanding of the eternal city? Whose voices helped shape ancient Rome? What did these voices omit? Whose voices were left out? In this course, we explore Roman poetry and prose as we delve into texts by Horace, Catullus, Vergil, Ovid, Livy, and Cornelia. We also look at Latin inscriptions, and we consider other ways the voices of antiquity have been passed down to us.

July 24- August 4, “Roman Voices”. Upper Level. Taught by Sarah Grover. Monday - Friday. 10:30am to 1pm (EDT). Course Fee: $1200. Apply.

“Latin AP Prep: Reading Caesar and Vergil”

This two-week upper-level Latin reading program is an intensive preparation for the Latin AP in which students will read excerpts from Caesar’s Gallic War and Vergil’s Aeneid. Given that both Caesar and Vergil present stylized characters and events that reflect Roman preoccupations and values, we will also talk and read about Roman notions of the self and identity and ways that Romans would perform and reaffirm their social identity and status through their habits, dress, gestures, and more. Brief excerpts from Quintilian, Plutarch, Seneca, and Tacitus will highlight the ways in which a carefully cultivated public self led to training in visual and verbal styles that were then presented as 'natural' qualities. We will also look at Roman art as another way that individuals could craft and shape their public image.

July 31-August 11, “Latin AP Prep”. Upper Level. Taught by Dr. Eric Casey. Monday-Friday 10:30am to 1:30pm (EDT). Course Fee: $1200. Apply.

Application Deadline

Students are accepted on a rolling admissions basis while space is available. Please submit your application by the deadline of June 15, 2023 to receive priority consideration for our online programs. Applications received before this date will be considered as they are received and acceptances will be granted based on careful consideration by our staff. Applications received after this date will be carefully considered as they are received as long as spots are still available.

Your application will be processed and you will have a reply from us regarding your acceptance status within one to two weeks of your submission date provided that we have received your teacher reference.

Faculty

 Testimonials - Calder Classics Online

“The Calder Classics courses are such an incredible way to both learn and reinforce your understanding of Latin and of Rome, by reading and discussing a wide range of Classical poetry, artwork and monuments in an engaging and fun atmosphere.”

“The course has helped me strengthen my understanding of grammar rules by translating a myriad of texts that I would not have had the chance to translate at school.”

“Roman Voices is an excellent course that familiarized me with the distinguished voices of Roman poets and, at the same time, empowered me with the ability to re-imagine their work in the modern context.”

“I cannot thank Calder Classics enough for a splendid month this summer. I took two Reading Latin courses: Constructing Memory and Raise a Toast to Wining and Dining. They each offered something different but were equally fascinating. Even reading some of the same authors (Vergil, Catullus, Horace, Ovid) and looking at the same artists (Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Vasari) brought new insights the second time around, since the theme of each class was well defined yet broad. The online format worked well, I thought--obviously, we’d all rather be in Florence, but in some ways meeting remotely increased the possibilities of what we could read and see. Actually, my art history teacher really was in Florence, and made a tremendous effort to immerse us in the culture, knowledge, and landscape around her. All of the teachers were more than willing to stay late or come early to class to make sure we, the students, felt fully confident about our translations and interpretations of the material at hand. I’ve been given a wonderful toolkit of terminology, literary, artistic, and historical; directions for dissecting relevant words, images, and ideas; and pure enthusiasm for reaching into corners of my mind and of the world I never knew existed. From these courses, I have learned how to critically engage with nonverbal as well as verbal information, and to try and find each within the other. So, I think I finally have an answer to the age-old question as to which is superior, art or literature: both!”

“My Calder Classics experience was amazing, my teacher was super nice and very helpful! I learned a lot about Augustan Rome and read many interesting authors. Although I wish we had been able to actually go to Rome, I really enjoyed my experience!”

“This course provided me with a great opportunity to read Horace, Virgil, Ovid, Catullus, and also reinforced some grammar concepts in preparation for my latin course next year. Overall, I really enjoyed this course.Calder Classics Rome in Absentia provided an informative and fun virtual experience where I was able to study Latin and pretend to travel to Rome right from my bedroom.”

“Absolutely wonderful. Calder makes the best poets from the Latin Golden Age incredibly accessible. Here you mingle with them and get glimpses through their eyes.”

“I liked the diversity. Usually classics courses focus on one author, one work-- focusing on one theme is a great change of flavor.”

“I really enjoyed the Art History portion of the course which I have never taken before. It was really valuable to have a teacher who is actually in Florence and could (virtually) take us to certain places. It made not being in Italy slightly better. Despite all the pandemic obstacles in the way, Calder Classics was able to adapt and deliver an incredible online program that taught me so much!”

“Calder Classics classes are awesome! I have learned an extraordinary amount while also having a good time. I would recommend these programs to all my friends.”

“This class was a great way to help me feel confident when reading and translating Latin.”

“Classes are very interactive and fun, great way to enjoy the summer with some people while learning at the same time!”

“I had such an amazing experience over this past week! The teachers were all incredible, and their passion and enthusiasm for what they were teaching created such an amazing learning environment. I highly recommend taking courses with Calder Classics!”

“After participating in the Journeys to the Underworld program, I am confident that I have tremendously improved my ability to read Ancient Greek. Within only the ten days of this program, we were able to read all of book eleven of the Odyssey. On top of that, we learned about Italian history, Dante, and many Italian artists so that we could examine different depictions of the Underworld within the context of when they would have been created. I feel that I have accomplished so much through this program and can't wait to participate in another Calder Classics program in the future!”

”I think that Calder Classics is a great program for over the summer. I was clearly learning and improving my Latin, but I had so much fun both with the reading materials and the art history classes we paired with our reading, that it never really felt like a class, it was just a fun way to learn more about the Latin language and surrounding culture!”

“Calder Classics is one of those summer courses that never over-stresses you but never under-stress you. I had good feelings about this course before it even started, and although my course had to be online due to the pandemic, Calder Classics dealt with this situation smoothly, and I learned a lot!”

“Throughout my weeks with Calder Classics, I was able to experience a wide variety of classics related topics in an engaging and interesting way. The teachers and materials were amazing and definitely furthered my knowledge and interest in the classics moving forward.”