Philology, literatures and history of the ancient world

ILARIA ANDOLFI

In consistency with the educational purposes of the whole teaching course, aim of the teaching unit is to give students knowledge and comprehension skills in the field of Greek Language and Literature, that complete and/or reinforce those acquired in the first grade of studies. Moreover, it will make the students able to approach orginal themes in a research context, making more complex judgments, communicating knowledge and its process, and studying the subject in an independent and self-educational way. In particular, the aim of the course is to widen the students' knowledge of Greek literature; we shall analyze a number of texts and learn to use the main critical tools (linguistical, rhetorical, and those related to textual criticism). The course will also encourage students to undertake their own research projects.

Students will be able to:

-read and comment on fragmentary poetic texts, showing a full knowledge of Greek language and metrics;

- read and comment on texts available on papyri, showing full command of ecdotical techniques:

- navigate the complex critical debate, pinpointing strong and weak points of each side;

- deliver a paper on a text that will be assigned in a clear and appropriate fashion.

This course is meant for students of the master in Filologia e Storia del Mondo Antico. A good knowledge of Greek language and dialectology, of the metrics and ecdotics is fundamental. It is not mandatory to have held a course in papyrology, even if this would be preferable.

Archaic lyric (elegy, iambus, melic poetry, both monodic and choral) is definitely one of the most fascinating research areas of Greek literature. Despite the fragmentary state in which such texts have been handed down, papyrological discoveries from the 19th century century onwards have breathed new life into the critical debate (e.g. the controversy around Alkman's Louvre Papyrus) and have also provided texts of poets which would otherwise be almost unknown (e.g. Bacchilides and Corinna).

This module aims at illuminating the importance of some of the most noteworthy papyrological discoveries which have enlarged our knowledge of archaic lyric (e.g. Alkman, Stesichorus), covering an arch that arrives as far as the latest discoveries (Archilochus in 2005, Sappho in 2004 and 2014). The texts will be read also in the light of the critical debate that have emerged later.

Critical editions of the texts together with a selection of articles will be shared during the course. The same applies to the seminars held by each student.

attending is strongly advised. Students who are not in the position of attending should get in touch as soon as possible.

50%: paper (to be delivered during the module); 50% oral examination