Brown Pre-College Summer Program, The Quest for Immortality in the Ancient World

Best for: High school students who want a discussion-driven, humanities-style course on how ancient people imagined life, death, and the afterlife, with a special focus on the ancient Middle East as well as Greece and Rome. Day to day: Over two weeks, you start with Mesopotamia, then Egypt, then Israel, reading and discussing major texts like the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Pyramid Texts and Book of the Dead, the Harper Songs, the Psalms, Hebrew prophecy, and wisdom literature, with intro lectures to frame each unit and seminar-style discussion in full group and small groups. Common pitfalls: The reading and writing load is substantial, so students should be ready for consistent work Verify details on the official page.

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