The inaugural 2023 International Latin Olympiad will take place on July 24-30 at St. Stephen’s School on the Aventine Hill in the heart of Rome. St. Stephen’s School is located a 4-minute walk from the Circus Maximus and within a mile of the Forum and the Coliseum. Among secondary schools, it has an unparalleled classics department, including studies in Greek, Latin, and Arabic. The school’s Classics Department oversees, together with the American University in Rome, an ongoing Roman-era archaeological excavation site adjacent to the school.
St. Stephen’s School is housed in a former villa and convent on the Aventine Hill.
The International Latin Olympiad program details will be updated on a continual basis throughout 2021 and 2022, but as per our current plans, participants can look forward to the following:
-Oratorical, translation, grammar, vocabulary, recitation, debate, cultural, and historical simulation competitions, including an overall Olympiad champion for each age division
-Numerous sightseeing opportunities in and around Rome, including the Forum, Pantheon, Ara Pacis, Appian Way, Catacombs, Trajan’s Column, Hadrian’s Villa, Mausoleum of Augustus, Baths of Caracalla, Pyramid of Cestius, Arch of Constantine, and more
–Online Roman-themed video and computer game tournaments held in the weeks prior to the Olympiad
-A day trip to Pompeii, Herculaneum, and the National Archaeological Museum in Naples
-A Roman banquet complete with togas and recipes from Apicius
-Etruscan-era ruins and a beach trip to the crater lake of Lago Albano, plus a visit to the historic town of Castel Gandolfo (likely site of the former Alba Longa)
–National Etruscan Museum visit in the 16th century Villa Giulia
-Roman-style athletic contests held inside the Circus Maximus
–Competing in the Forum and Coliseum in buzzer-based History Bee competitions in both English and Latin
-Learning archaeological techniques on-site from professional researchers and a chance to help conserve artifacts and ruins
-Opportunities to speak Latin as a living language. At certain times, exclusive Latin usage will be obligatory. This will be facilitated through online tutorials in advance of the Olympiad.
-An introduction to Indo-European, Italic, Latin, and Romance linguistics
-Performing a play of Plautus in Latin (with English translation provided for the audience) inside the Forum or Coliseum
-Hands on introduction to Roman music, artistic methods, business practices, and daily life
-An interactive treasure hunt in the Roman Forum
-Tournaments of board games played by Ancient Romans
–Receiving authentic gladiatorial training and competing in a safe and supervised gladiatorial tournament
-A seminar on the early history of Christianity in Ancient Rome and an introduction to Ecclesiastical Latin conducted in Vatican City
-Siesta period each day with Roman-themed movies, board games, basic Italian lessons, pizza-making lessons, or just some time to nap and catch your breath
-A chance to see the famous modern sites of Rome including the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, the Jewish Museum of Rome / the Great Synagogue, the Vatican Museums, St. Peter’s Basilica, Sistine Chapel, – and eat the best pizza, pasta, gelato, and delicious Roman specialties that are rarely found outside Italy
-And much more! If you have further ideas, please let us know, as our program will be in development until registration opens in Fall 2022