Chris Kaltsas ’11

When I first embarked on the ICCS - Rome program in January, I was unsure what it would be like. My concept of modern Rome was a little blurry - I had no idea how the modern city interacted with the ancient remains that once lay beneath its surface. The ICCS program is designed to cement this idea of Rome - that is, as a growing entity over time. The program took field trips to archaeological sites three times per week, totaling up to twenty hours of class, and though this might sound like it's a lot, it was necessary to fully understand the achievements and the magnitude of the ancient Roman Empire. This time allowed the program to explore Rome and its immediate environs, the Roman and Etruscan sites around the Bay of Naples, and Greco-Roman Sicily. My idea of what the classical world was like was redefined - I had never before imagined anything like this. I was able to take what I learned from the classical studies department at Wesleyan in subjects such as Roman History and Latin, and apply it to practical endeavors, such as transcribing and translating inscriptions on ancient monuments, and critically analyzing it with the historiography techniques taught in ancient history survey classes. This was the case in the ancient city of Herculaneum, shown behind me in the picture above. With the knowledge of classical art, architecture, Latin, and history that I gained at both Wesleyan and the ICCS - Rome program, I was able to picture how daily life was lived in this ancient city near Naples. Overall, this was a great experience, both intellectually and personally. Not only have I gained access to some of the best preserved classical archaeology sites in the world, but I gained knowledge about ancient Romans, as well as insight about living in a foreign country. I'll return to Wesleyan in the fall with increased knowledge about the ancient Romans and what life was like for them, as well as some new personal developments that I gained in this intense environment, including some life-long friends and insight from the professors with whom I grew very close. With the help of the Classical Studies department and the generous Squire Fund, I will return as a more curious, intellectually developed individual with a grown appreciation for the Classics.