PROTOHISTORY OF THE AEGEAN AND THE MEDITERRANEAN FROM THE II TO THE I MILLENNIUM B.C.

Aim of the course is to make students able to carry on their research in the field of Aegean archaeology through the possess of adequate methodologies in the field of archaeology, epigraphy and bibliographical research. This goal will be achieved through the teaching methodology of seminars.

The course will be held in English.

Frontal lectures in the classroom will provide the student the knowledge of the content of the course, whereas research skills will be obtained through seminars.

The program includes two modules. In the first one the Aegean of the II millennium will be dealt with, with a special attention paid to the palatial periods, prestige production and epigraphic evidence. In the second one attention is focused on the wall painting of the Minoan period seen as a case study for the analysis and interpretation of iconographic, iconological and social aspects. Topics: Background: History of the archaeological research - Chronology and geography - Aegean civilization from the Neolithic to the II millennium.– The down of the Minoan Palaces – the first and second palaces – the Late palatial period: Knossos – Myceanean Crete – Middle Helladic – The Shaft graves- the Mycenaean palaces – Cyclades in the Middle and Late Bronze Age – The end of Bronze Age societies

Aegean wall paintings: techniques and social background. Iconography and iconology. Knossos, Ayia Triadaa, Thera.

A Geography and chronology (1 CFU)

- E. Cline (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the Bronze Age Aegean, Oxford University press 2010, pp. 3-30 (background and definitions)

B The II millennium Aegean (3 CFU).

- E. Cline (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of the Bronze Age Aegean, Oxford University press 2010, 99-443 (Middle and Late Bronze Age, Art and architecture, Society and culture, Seals and writing, Material crafts).

C Minoan Wall paintings (2 CFU)

- P. Militello, Contributo allo studio della pittura minoica, (Syndesmoi 6) Catania 2020, 101 pp.

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.