Archaeological Discoveries takes on Rome!
Rome, la città eterna, or The Eternal City is home to a vast collection of some of the most significant artifacts in the history of humankind. On November 1st, ten students in the ARAA 220 Archaeological Discoveries: A Passion for Classical Antiquity class had the chance to experience first-hand the ancient treasures that give Rome its world-renown reputation.
Led by Professor Giampiero Bevagna, this course focuses on analyzing and interpreting ancient artifacts from Greek and Roman civilizations, in conjunction with studying the discipline of archaeology. The students participated in an overnight excursion to Rome, visiting the Capitoline and Villa Giulia museums on Friday and the Vatican Museums on Saturday. Rome and its countless treasures are only a short train ride from Perugia, which offers students an unprecedented glimpse into the past.
“This is why coming to Italy is different from studying in the United States,” Prof. Bevagna elaborates. “You can see history, art, and culture in person and having that experience creates a much more powerful connection to what is studied in class.”
One of the trip’s highlights was the Etruscan section of the famous Vatican Museums, which holds some of the finest known examples of Roman art.
Prof. Bevagna challenged the students to not only look at the artifacts in the museums, but to also critique their display: to question whether or not they are showcased effectively; compare how all three museums present their collections; and study the history of why they were built. After two days of museum-hopping, the students were free to explore Rome on their own for the rest of Saturday afternoon before heading back to Perugia.