MARYLAND INTERNATIONAL Connecting the University of Maryland & the World SPRING 2007, VOLUME II MARYLAND INTERNATIONAL S P R I N G 2007, Vol U me I I EDITOR/DESIGNER Kelly E. Blake OFFICE OF INTER­NATIONAL PR­OGR­AMS 1122 Holzapfel Hall College Park, MD 20742 301.405.4772 phone 301.405.4773 fax www.international.umd.edu INTER­NATIONAL EDUcation SER­Vices 3116 Mitchell Building College Park, MD 20742 301.314.7740 phone 301.314.9347 fax www.international.umd.edu/ies STUDY ABR­OAD 1101 Holzapfel Hall College Park, MD 20742 301.314.7746 phone 301.314.9135 fax www.international.umd.edu/studyabroad MAR­YLAND EnglisH InstitUte 1123 Holzapfel Hall College Park, Maryland 20742 301.405.8634 phone 301.314.9462 fax www.international.umd.edu/mei INSTITUTE FOR­ global cHINESE AFFAIR­S 0124 Taliaferro Hall College Park, MD 20742 301.405.0208 phone 301.405.0219 fax www.international.umd.edu/igca ConfUciUS institUte AT MAR­YLAND On the cover: Woman’s head detail 0134 Holzapfel Hall from Villa Arianna, Stabiae College Park, MD 20742 This page: Hippolytus, from Villa 301.405.0208 phone Arianna, Stabiae, second half of 301.405.0219 fax first century A.D. Photos copyright R­estoring Ancient www.international.umd.edu/cim Stabiae foundation (also images pgs.4-11) features 4 11 back page Buried, but Not Forgotten What the Romans Grew Maryland Day Goes The ancient Roman town of Ancient historian Wilhelmina International Stabiae, once an exclusive Jashemski, Professor Emerita, Celebrating the international beach resort for the wealthi- UM Department of History, diversity of the university and est of Romans, lies three miles spent more than two decades its ties throughout the world southeast of Pompeii on a 100 unearthing the Roman ruins was the theme of the ninth foot cliff overlooking the Bay at Pompeii to understand and annual Maryland Day, held on of Naples in Italy. Though it document the types of gardens April 29, 2007. “You cannot be was destroyed by volcanic they kept. A true pioneer, as an educated person in 2007 ash from the AD 79 eruption of the first non-Italian invited to unless you have some under- Mt. Vesuvius, much of it still excavate at Pompeii, and one standing of another culture and lies well-preserved under- of few women in the field fifty their way of thinking,” Presi- ground. Its history has intrigued years ago, she is credited with dent Mote said in the opening generations of explorers and creating the academic field of ceremony. “Our students need scholars, and the University of garden archaeology. to be connected. They need to Maryland is playing a central know how this world works.” role in bringing this spectacular site back to life. also in this issue 13 Study Abroad gets boost from Going International forum organized by CTE-Lilly Teaching Fellows 14 Maryland English Institute hosts Taiwan students for culture immersion Confucius Institute co-hosts event with Library of Congress on history of Christianity in China 15 Ambassadorial Lectures from Ireland’s Noel Fahey and Greece’s Alexandros Mallias M ARY L A N D I N T E RNATI O NA L is the newsletter of the Office of International Programs (Saúl Sosnowski, director; Joseph Scholten, associate director) and the interconnected group of offices under its auspices, including International Education Services (Valerie Woolston, director), Study Abroad (Michael Ulrich, associate director), the Institute for Global Chinese Affairs (Michael Ma, executive director), the Confucius Institute at Maryland (Chuan Sheng Liu, director) and the Maryland English Institute (Marsha Sprague, director). We publish two issues during the spring semester, one during the summer, and two in the fall. To submit story ideas, please contact the editor, Kelly Blake, at [email protected] or 301.405.4771. BURIED... BUT NOT FORGOTTEN UM-ItaLY PartnErship Brings AnciEnt ROMan RESOrt Back TO LifE Each year, more than two million bay and mountains, a temperate climate, Only a small portion of ancient people flock to Italy to see Pompeii, the and thermal mineral springs while they Stabiae has been excavated to date, but ancient R­oman city that was buried by conducted business and ran the empire the international, interdisciplinary team the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in A.D. during the summer months. But the at the R­estoring Ancient Stabiae (R­AS) 79. The ruins at nearby Foundation is working Herculaneum receive a to change that. “We’re smaller but still impressive trying to bring back to life 200,000-300,000 tourists what we know is there,” annually. Far fewer people explains Matt Bell, UM travel to Vesuvius’ third professor of architecture great victim, Stabiae. and Vice President of the Situated about three R­AS Foundation. “These miles south of Pompeii villas are spectacular; atop an ancient lava flow they range from 160,000 overlooking the Bay of – 200,000 square feet each. Naples, Stabiae was an This is the R­oman version exclusive seaside resort of Malibu.” inhabited by R­ome’s elite The Death of Pliny on the Shore of Stabiae, oil painting by P.H. de Valencienne, 1813 The University of two thousand years ago. Maryland might never have They built luxury villas R­oman elite’s opulent resort city met become involved in R­estor- there from which they could enjoy the same fate as that of its more plebeian ing Ancient Stabiae if it weren’t for magnificent views of the surrounding neighbors, buried by Vesuvius’ outburst. Leonardo (Leo) Varone. An alumnus of 4 Maryland International Spring 2007, VOLume II 5 An aerial view of the Bay of Naples shows Mt. Vesuvius and the surrounding area, currently home to an estimated four million people. the School of Architecture, Planning, known. At least six or seven villas were realize this archaeological park means and Preservation, Varone grew up in explored by the Bourbon excavators that visitors will be able to really dive the Italian city of Castellammare di and still lie under the ashes, along with into the unique culture of the R­oman Stabia, which lies next to the ancient a still mysterious earlier town. The elite,” Varone explains. “They could city of Stabiae on the Bay of Naples. research opportunities in Stabiae are afford the very best architects and He came to Maryland in his twenties and worked with Professor Bell on his master’s thesis in architecture, for which With luxury bayview villas from he explored the possibilities for creating an urban connection to an archaeologi- cal park at Stabiae. As a native to the 160,000-200,000 square feet – region, he knew the site’s history— which he calls “a fascinating twice-told Stabiae is the Roman version of Malibu. tale of exploration and passion”—and its potential. In the eighteenth century, thus vast, and it is probably the only site artists. The quality of the architecture the enormous seaside villas were partly in the Pompeian region where large- and frescoes are among the best found excavated via tunneling, along with scale excavations will be executed in in the Pompeian area and it is the only Pompeii and Herculaneum, during the the next decade, according to Varone. place in the ancient world that features reign of King Charles of Bourbon. But In 1998, the non-profit R­estoring a cluster of enormous well-preserved Stabiae was then reburied and forgotten. Ancient Stabiae Foundation was initi- seaside villas which still maintain the In 1950, Libero d’Orsi, the principal ated by R­ichard Etlin, UM professor view of the Bay they were mainly built of a local high school that Leo’s of architecture, and Leo Varone, in for.” These villas, sometimes referred to mother—and later Leo—would attend, collaboration with the Superintendency as “entertainment machines,” featured resumed work on the site, initially with of Archaeology in Pompei, with repre- porticoed gardens, panoramic terraces, the help of an unemployed mechanic sentatives from Italy and the United fountains and pools, spas with three and a janitor from his high school, and States on its governing board. R­AS different kinds of baths, and large two of the colossal villas were partially seeks to transform the site at Stabiae dining rooms situated for the best bay re-excavated. While those villas (Villa into a multi-faceted archaeological views. Many of the treasures previ- San Marco and Villa Arianna) are open park with a range of educational and ously unearthed, including 29 original for public view, Stabiae remains little entertainment opportunities. “To R­oman frescoes from the period of continued page 7... 4 Maryland International Spring 2007, VOLume II 5 STABIAE’S HISTORY OF EXPLORATION & PAssION The ancient Roman town of Stabiae is located close to the modern town of Castellammare di Stabia, approximately three miles southeast of Pompeii, on a 100 foot cliff overlooking the Bay of Naples. This seaside resort was largely destroyed by 6-15 feet of volcanic ash which fell from the AD 79 eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Its history has intrigued generations of explorers and scholars. A Royal Treasure Hunt In 1744, discoveries of ruins at Stabiae led to an official request to King Charles of Bourbon (pictured) to excavate. This task was entrusted to the Spanish engineer Rocco Gioacchino de Alcubierre and the Swiss engineer Karl Weber, who brought to light some parts of Villa San Marco (1749-1754) and Villa di Arianna (1757-1762). The Royal digs took a trea- sure-hunting approach, and many fine frescoes were removed for royal patrons. Tunnels were dug crudely, smashing through frescoed walls as they went room by room (see photo).