Who are you and what do you do?

I’m Claire Holleran, Associate Professor of Classics and Ancient History at the University of Exeter.

When did you attend the Summer School?

I attended the Summer School in 1999, when I was studying at the University of Manchester.

Do you have a particular memory of the British School at Rome?

Eating dinner outside in the cortile was magical.

Was there a site visit that really sticks in your mind?

I was blown away by the whole experience but visits that stick in my mind include the Domus Aurea, which subsequently became the focus of my undergraduate dissertation, and the columbarium of Gnaeus Pomponius Hylas (I couldn’t believe that it was there!). I was fascinated by Monte Testaccio – and still am – and Ostia was incredible. The final two in particular have informed my research career subsequently.

What did you enjoy most about the course overall?

I don’t think that I can single out one particular aspect as I thought it was all amazing! This was my first trip to Rome and to have such privileged access to a range of sites was just incredible. Somebody would appear on a moped with keys and open a door or a gate to reveal something completely unexpected. I hadn’t had the opportunity to visit many places at that age and as an introduction to Rome, this was unbelievable.

What impact did attending the course have on your rest of your studies and degree?

I can honestly say that attending the BSR undergraduate summer school was life-changing for me. It sparked a fascination with the city of Rome that has never waned. It resulted in me undertaking an MA programme that focused on Rome, followed by a PhD on the retail trade in the ancient city (this is where Monte Testaccio and Ostia were key points of inspiration). I can trace a direct line from the course to the publication of my book, Shopping in Ancient Rome: the Retail Trade in the Late Republic and the Principate (Oxford University Press, 2012).

The course played a huge part in me becoming an academic. I returned to the BSR several times afterwards, with a residential stay funded by an AHRC studentship in 2003 and a Rome Award in 2008. Amanda Claridge’s archaeological guide was my companion on all these trips to Rome and I was incredibly privileged to have the opportunity to edit A Companion to the City of Rome with Amanda, published in 2018.

Do you have any advice for future participants?

Just to make the most of it! Participation is a tremendous opportunity.