HOUSES OF MORTALS AND GODS is a 5-week intensive summer Latin institute for 25 middle-school and high-school teachers, beginning with one week at the College of Notre Dame and continuing for four weeks in Italy.  The purpose of the institute is to bring the ancient Roman world to life by combining the reading of original Latin texts with visits to the related sites.  Through examination of texts and archeological sites we will investigate the private life of the ancient Romans, with special emphasis on the home, the household and the house.  Also using literary and site visits we will extend the theme to public life, looking at temples as houses of the gods and tombs as houses of the dead.  

A walk through the Roman Forum brings the tumult of everyday routine to life in a way that leads to greater understanding of Vergil’s image of ancient Rome or Cicero’s orations.  A visit to Horace’s Sabine Farm deepens appreciation for the poet’s love of his home and gratitude to his patron whose gift it was.  Seeing the remains of ancient Pompeii and Herculaneum calls forth empathy for the ancient population that came to so sudden and tragic an end.  Teachers who have this experience can make the Latin texts more accessible to their students.

Sponsorship

HOUSES OF MORTALS AND GODS will be hosted by the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, an independent four-year liberal arts college.  Founded in 1896, it was the first Catholic women's college in the country.  Set on a 58-acre campus in Baltimore, the college is conveniently located near downtown Baltimore, and Washington D.C. is only an hour's drive away.  Both bus and train facilities are close by, and the Baltimore-Washington International Airport is 30 minutes away.

Faculty

The Institute will be led by:
Therese Marie Dougherty, SSND, Ph.D., Director.  Theresa Lamy, SSND, Ph.D., Co-Director;
assisted by Thomas Hayes, M.A. Three Village Central Schools, Stony Brook/Setauket, NY

Visiting Scholars
Bernard Barcio, L.H.D., Butler University, Indianapolis, IN
Henry Bender, Ph. D., The Hill School, Pottstown and St. Joseph University, Philadelphia, PA.
Glenn Bugh, Ph.D., Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
Girolamo De Simone, D.Phil. St. John’s College, Oxford University
Roger Macfarlane, Ph.D. Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
Karen Meyers, M.A., Salem Academy, Winston-Salem, NC

Seminar Overview

Part One (June 23-27), at the College of Notre Dame, will present an overview of Roman history, literature and archeology of the Roman Republic and Empire through lectures by distinguished scholars.  Participants will use the college library to finalize preparations for their presentations.  

Part Two (June 30-July 11) will take the institute to Campania, where we will be housed  first at the Villa Vergiliana in Cuma, and then at the Hotel Vittoria in Pompeii.  Here we will study the Roman home at Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabiae, and the seaside resort of Baia, as we read selections describing the lives of the rich and famous on the Bay of Naples.  

Part Three  (July 14-25) will take place at the Casa la Salle in Rome, where participants will read what the ancient Romans had to say about their homes and visit the actual sites of the Roman Forum, the Palatine, and other monuments of ancient Rome and Ostia, as well as Cicero’s home town of Arpinum, Horace’s Sabine Farm and Hadrian’s Villa at Tivoli.  

Individual research   Each participant will focus on one monument, researching it before and during the institute, and presenting the results of the research to the group at the appropriate point in the program. After the institute participants will make available instructional materials based on their research.

Participants

Twenty-five teachers will be selected from across the nation.   Selection will aim at a mix of women and men from urban, suburban and rural areas, larger and smaller schools, both middle schools and high schools. Priority will be given to teachers most in need of a study experience in Italy, particularly those who have never had this opportunity.  While the institute will not be limited to Latin teachers, the nature of the curriculum will require a foundation in the Latin language.   The intensity of the program and the amount of time spent at sites and in the sun demand physical stamina.  Selection will be according to the following criteria:               
        1.    Commitment to teaching;
        2.    Experience and success in teaching;
        3.    Intellectual curiosity and desire to learn;
        4.    Need of the opportunities provided by the Institute.

Support for Participants

Each participant will receive a stipend of $3600 to cover travel, room and board, as well as books to be used during the course of the institute.    Admission to sites and some local transportation in Italy will be covered by the grant.   Graduate credit may be earned for the work of the institute, but this is optional and tuition is not included in the benefits provided.

Eligibility

Teachers in grades K through 12 anywhere in the United States are eligible to apply.  The program requires a reading knowledge of Latin.  Applicants will need to submit a resume, an essay, and letters of recommendation by March 1, 2008.  The essay should demonstrate knowledge of Latin or particular interest in Latin literature and/or ancient Roman history and culture.

Housing

For the first week participants will reside in Mary Meletia Hall on the campus of the College of Notre Dame of Maryland.  Meletia Hall preserves the old charm of the original building while offering a comfortable and attractive living space. The language department and International Center are also located  here and so participants will have easy access to necessary materials in the residence hall in addition to the college library.  The remainder of our time will be in Italy.  For the second and third weeks we will be housed at Villa Vergiliana, the Vergilian Society headquarters in Cuma, and at the Hotel Vittoria in Pompeii.  Housing for the final two weeks will be at Casa la Salle at Via Aurelia 476 in Rome.

For an application form or more information, please contact:
Sister Therese Marie Dougherty, SSND
Director, NEH Summer Institute
College of Notre Dame of Maryland
4701 N. Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21210-2476
Phone:  410-532-5559
Fax: 410-532-5794
Email: tdougherty@ndm.edu