CLASSICAL EPIGRAPHY

L-ANT/02 - 6 CFU - 1° Semester

Teaching Staff

CLAUDIA GIUFFRIDA

Course Structure

Forntal lessons.

In reference to Unit A, the course is aimed at:

the reconstruction of the historical development of the Greek alphabetical writing and its peculiarities in the Greek society;

It has for purpose:

the knowledge of the essential elements of Greek epigraphy and of the main themes related to the origin of alphabetic writing in the Greek world, to its multiple forms of use, in relation also to the many materials and supports, to the different dialectal and graphic characteristics and its diffusion and evolution until the Roman era.

It therefore provides for:

knowledge of the historical geography of the Greek world and of the epigraphist tools (main epigraphic repertoires (paper and digital), bibliographic guides, sitography).

It is dedicated to:

consciousness of the methodology of use of inscriptions as multidisciplinary sources, in parallel with the other documentary bases of ancient history to reconstruct, in their contextualization, the multiple aspects of Greek civilization both in the private sphere and at the political-institutional level;

is focused on developing the ability:

to describe and recognize the various material characteristics and the different types of inscriptions, with their specific forms, and their expressive and communicative purposes and to identify their private or public sphere and the geographical and chronological context;

of autonomously dealing with an epigraphic text: reading, translation, dating, palaeographic comment, linguistic and literary framing, historical interpretation;

to communicate in an effective and clear way, through the use of the specific lexicon of the discipline, the acquired knowledge and the reflections elaborated on the main themes and problems posed by an epigraphic text.

In Unit B the course provides for:

the knowledge of some problems of Greek civilization, mainly conducted through specific inscriptions, such as the role of women and the relevance of religion and / or magic.

 

 

 

Detailed Course Content

Features of Greek epigraphy from the birth of alphabetic writing to the Hellenistic-Roman civilization.

Passage of the alphabet in the Greek world: the Greeks learn to write

Main archaic alphabets and the reality of a plural world.

Various types of inscriptions: public, private and sacred epigraphs.

Epigraphist’ tools: main epigraphic repertoires (paper and digital), bibliographic guides, sitography.

Relevance of epigraphy for historical reconstruction through significant examples.

 

Textbook Information

Unit A (3 CFU). Features of Greek Epigraphy from the birth of alphabetic writing to the end of Hellenistic-Roman civilization

M. Guarducci, L'epigrafia greca dalle origini al tardo impero, Roma 2005, pp. 506 (Ist. Pol. Dello Stato)

with

M. L. Lazzarini, La scrittura nella città. Iscrizioni, archivi e alfabetizzazione, in S. Settis (a cura di), I Greci. Storia, Cultura, Arte, Società, vol. 2.II: Definizione, Torino 1997, pp. 725-750;

E. Culasso Gastaldi, L’epigrafia greca, in G. Poma (a cura di), Le fonti per la storia antica, Bologna 2008, pp. 193-216.

 

Unit B (3 CFU). Gender and faith issues. Epigraphic testimonies

F. Ferrandini Troisi, La donna nella società ellenistica. Testimonianze epigrafiche, Bari 2000, pp. 120 (Edipuglia)

with

M. Cassia, Colleghi e coniugi: due archiatri cristiani nell’Anatolia tardoantica, in F. Cenerini-I.G. Mastrorosa (a cura di), Donne, istituzioni e società, Lecce - Brescia 2016, pp. 235-259 (Pensa Multimedia Editore);

T. Alfieri Tonini, Iscrizioni greche della Sicilia sud orientale: Apollo e Artemide, in Convivenze etniche e contatti di culture. Atti del Seminario di Studi, Università di Milano (23-24 novembre 2009), Aristonothos, IV, 2012, pp. 187-208;

C. Giuffrida, Tra religione e magia. Problemi di acculturazione nella Sicilia tardoantica, in C. Giuffrida-M. Cassia (a cura di), Silenziose rivoluzioni. La Sicilia dalla Tarda Antichità al Medioevo, Atti dell’Incontro di Studio, Catania- Piazza Armerina 21-23 maggio 2015, Testi e studi di storia antica, 28, Catania-Roma 2016, 307-345 (Edizioni Del Prisma);

St. Mitchell, Anatolia. Land, Men and Gods in Asia Minor, 1, Oxford 1003, pp. 59-259.

 

Please remember that in compliance with art 171 L22.04.1941, n. 633 and its amendments, it is illegal to copy entire books or journals, only 15% of their content can be copied.

For further information on sanctions and regulations concerning photocopying please refer to the regulations on copyright (Linee Guida sulla Gestione dei Diritti d’Autore) provided by AIDRO - Associazione Italiana per i Diritti di Riproduzione delle opere dell’ingegno (the Italian Association on Copyright).

All the books listed in the programs can be consulted in the Library.



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