Marksmen Explore the Ancient World

During Spring Break, twelve middle school Marksmen and three faculty members traveled to Italy to explore the history and culture of the Mediterranean through a program designed to complement the Humanities 6 curriculum.

The journey began in Rome at the Colosseum, where the boys stepped directly into the ancient world. Standing inside the nearly 2,000-year-old arena, they learned how more than 50,000 spectators once gathered for gladiatorial contests and elaborate spectacles. The moment left a clear impression. “My favorite moment of the trip was when the middle school boys stepped into the Colosseum,” said Courtney Poglitsch, chaperone and Middle School administrative assistant. “They were wide-eyed with awe and captivated by the history before them. Having learned about it in school, seeing it in person made it real in a way no classroom ever could.” Later that day, the group traded ancient history for hands-on culture during a pasta-making class, learning to prepare fresh fettuccine and tiramisu, an experience that quickly became a favorite.

From Rome, the group traveled south to Pompeii, the Roman city buried when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in A.D. 79. Walking its preserved streets offered a vivid glimpse into daily life in the ancient world.

The journey continued with an overnight ferry from Naples to Palermo, beginning the Sicilian portion of the trip. In Agrigento, the boys visited the remarkable Valley of the Temples, home to some of the best-preserved Greek temples in the Mediterranean. In Syracuse, they explored ancient ruins and the famous Ear of Dionysius before wandering the lively streets of Ortigia. For middle school math teacher Lauren Logan, one moment there stood out: “Standing inside the Ear of Dionysius in Siracusa and hearing the boys’ voices echo through centuries of history as they sang the St. Mark’s “Alma Mater” is a core memory of the trip.”

The odyssey concluded in Taormina, a hilltop town overlooking the Mediterranean and Mt. Etna, where the group visited the ancient theater and had a brief history lesson.

The program was designed by Jason Lange, Assistant Head of Middle School and former Humanities instructor, and is offered every two years. This spring marked its third iteration. “I certainly hope the boys gained a deeper understanding of the ancient world,” Lange said. “But more importantly, I hope they learned something about themselves and their place in the world.”