Grant program breathes new life into the study of ancient cultures

Separated from us by a huge gulf of time, ancient Greece and Rome still live through their art and architecture 2,000 years later.

For serious students of classical civilizations, study abroad is an opportunity to deepen their knowledge of a distant era — but it comes at a cost. Enter the Saul and Ruth Levin Educational Enrichment Grant, which benefits undergraduates majoring in ancient Mediterranean studies, including Classical Civilization, Classics Studies and Latin. The grant is awarded annually by the Department of Middle Eastern and Ancient Mediterranean Studies.

Namesake Saul Levin was a classics scholar who taught in the department from 1961 to 2000, while Ruth had a career as an activist and public official, including serving on the Vestal Board of Education.

The Levins initially set up a fund to promote the study of the Latin and ancient Greek languages among Binghamton students, according to their daughter Eve Levin, professor emeritus of history at the University of Kansas. In 2014, the Levins converted the balance of funds in the account to a permanent endowment to support enrichment activities for the department’s students.

“My parents were aware that many students would like to pursue their interest in ancient languages and cultures outside of the regular courses offered at Binghamton,” Levin explained. “The students go on study tours to ancient sites and archeological digs, attend specialized summer school or study abroad courses that they would not otherwise have the financial means to do. These grants make it possible for students to have life-changing opportunities.”

Eliana Klein, now a senior majoring in Ancient Mediterranean Studies, learned about the grant in lecturer Jeffrey Becker’s class on Hellenic and Roman sculpture, a topic she’s passionate about.

“I decided to give it a shot because I’ve always wanted to study abroad in Italy and visit the places and the art I study in class,” said Klein, a native of Niskayuna, NY, who transferred to Binghamton in her sophomore year.

She headed to Florence, Italy, in July 2024 and used the Levin grant funds to visit Rome’s Capitoline Museum, the Forum, the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain, as well as spots in Pompeii and Florence related to ancient history.

“It was really fulfilling to see all these very old objects in person,” she said. “The history feels much more alive and the detail on some of the sculptures is incredible to see up close.”

Klein is also a global studies minor and the study abroad experience allowed her to complete her capstone project on the ancient roots of the Sicilian mafia, which is usually traced back to the 1800s.

“I argued that a lot of the formative parts of the organization drew upon traditions that were established during the Roman Empire, primarily with the Emperor Augustus,” she said.

Touching lives

Klein’s interest in the ancient Mediterranean was initially sparked by the Percy Jackson series of books she read as a child. Originally a biology major, she took a Latin class to meet her language credit at Union College in Schenectady, NY, and found herself fascinated.

After transferring to Binghamton, she signed up for courses about Rome under Augustus and kept going. Ultimately, she plans to pursue law school. It turns out that a study of classical civilization is good preparation: American government and law are deliberately modeled on those of ancient Rome, which makes the content applicable to modern times, she acknowledged.

“It’s honestly a little bit scary how many parallels there are with Augustan policy,” she reflected. “And I see how stories like the myths are found in our lives today, and the inspiration that many countries take from the Roman Empire.”

During their lives, the Levins cherished the opportunity to hear about grant recipients’ experiences and projects, Eve Levin said.

Saul Levin sought to foster in students an eagerness to learn, to go beyond course requirements and to explore intellectual pathways for themselves. Ruth Levin, who had trained as a teacher, understood how even a small amount of money could make a significant difference in students’ lives, their daughter said. She followed both of their examples, becoming an academic herself and deeply appreciating the role that grants play in the student experience.

The department was also home to Eve and her siblings as they grew up. Last September, friends and family gathered on campus following Ruth’s funeral; Saul passed in 2021.

“The department was my father’s institutional home for 60 years — from 1961, when he arrived at Harpur College, until his death,” she reflected. “He was very devoted to the department, and he was eager to see it prosper in perpetuity. It was especially meaningful for us to be back in the Library Tower to recall our parents and celebrate their lives.”