Two students from the University of Winchester will explore the treasures of ancient Greece and Rome after gaining places at prestigious summer schools.
Ancient, Classical, and Medieval Studies students Will Best and Jane Miller have been accepted by British Summer Schools at Athens and Rome, respectively.
In Athens Will and his fellow students are set to attend a series of lectures and take tours of the major archaeological sites and museums in Athens, Attica and Central Greece, before leaving the city for six days of travel around the Peloponnese.
He said: “I visited Athens as a teenager with my family and I’m incredibly excited to be going back to experience the places and archaeology that I have been studying at first hand.”
William Best
Will said he was particularly looking forward to visiting the site of Mycenae, the ancient city which dominated much of southern Greece between 1600 BC to 1100 BC.
Mature student Will, 31, decided five years ago that he wanted to study for a degree in ancient history despite having no A levels and came to the University after completing an access to HE course at City College in Southampton.
He said he hopes to a study for a Master’s and then a PhD on Bronze Age Mediterranean civilisation.
Dr. Katy Soar, Senior Lecturer in Classical Archaeology at the University, said: “I am delighted for Will. He’s been an excellent student with a clear passion for the subject. It will be a fantastic experience, and he should be justifiably proud of being accepted on such a competitive course.”
Jane’s trip to the British School at Rome involves an intensive ten-day programme of visits to the sites, monuments and museums of ancient Rome and the surrounding area, accompanied by experts in the field, which will be integrated with evening lectures.
The 21-year-old from Petersfield says she is particularly interested in visiting Baths of Caracalla (pictured above) which were the subject of one of her assignments.
Jane Miller
“It’s going to be really exciting to see it in person, and I’m also looking forward to visiting the port of Ostia,” said Jane.
Jane has just completed her BA (Hons) in Ancient, Classical and Medieval Studies and has received a conditional offer to return to the University in September to start a Master’s in History.
“My primary focus is the start of Augustus’s reign to the end of the Flavian dynasty at the end of the first century AD,” she said. “This trip is going to be really useful for my studies.”
Dr. Carey Fleiner is Senior Lecturer in Classical (Romans) and Early Medieval History said: “Jane is our third of three students to apply and be accepted to the BSR’s City of Rome Summer School, a highly competitive and prestigious placement.
“Jane will be another fine representative for what we are doing here at the University in Classical Studies, and I’m sure all here at the University support her in this wonderful opportunity.”
This is the third year running Winchester students have gained place at the popular Summer Schools whose intake is usually restricted to around 15.
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