History, Anthropology, Religions

CLAUDIO ZAMAGNI
CLAUDIO ZAMAGNI

The course aims to provide knowledge and understanding of the methodological, critical and applicable aspects of the Discipline; it proposes geographical areas and sectorial perspectives in which related projects are activated; it shows the variability of fields of interest; it enables the student to master the specific topics in order to use them and apply them in other fields of study while using the correct specific language. With the acquired knowledge the student will be able to develop autonomous ability of connections with other disciplines in the various historical epochs and cultural contexts.

The course aims to offer a knowledge of the history of ancient Christian literature, through the critical reading of Christian texts (in translation). It also aims to display some of the relationships between Christian literature and iconography

Knowledge of the Latin and/or Greek languages is recommended but not required. Texts will be studied in translation.

This course will analyze the main Greek and Latin Christian literary texts of the first three centuries in their historical and literary context. Among the themes and texts analyzed: proto-Christian literature, New Testament canon, apocryphal literature, "heretical" and heresiological literature, Christian exegesis and historiography

Two are the books to read (both attending and non-attending students):
1) The following textbook: C. Moreschini - E. Norelli, Storia della letteratura cristiana antica greca e latina, vol. I. Da Paolo all'età costantiniana, Morcelliana, Brescia 2019 (N.B., those taking the two-year exam will prepare a selection from volumes II.-III. Dal concilio di Nicea al Medioevo, ibid., 2020-2021; in this case, they will have to agree with the professor which parts of the textbooks to prepare)
2) one of the following texts (in translation):
a) Origene, I principi, a c. di M. Simonetti, UTET, Torino 1968, Libro IV
b) Eusebio di Cesarea, Storia ecclesiastica, Volume I, a c. di F. Migliore - S. Borzì, Città Nuova, Roma 2001, Libro II

Analysis of some chosen texts in their literary and historical context; knowledge of bibliographic references

optional attendance

oral questioning

Quali sono le caratteristiche dell'esegesi di Origene? Quali sono gli elementi principali dello gnosticismo e le sue fonti letterarie?

• Module 1: Eusebius's Ecclesiastical History and the Traditions it witnesses
  • Books: handouts distributed in class to attendees


• Module 2: Sources for the Definition of the New Testament Canon
  • Books: handouts distributed in class to attendees


• Module 3: Textual Sources of Traditional Christian Iconography
  • Books: handouts distributed in class to attendees


• Module 4: Texts of Ancient Christian Literature: Exegetical and philological texts from the Greek and Latin traditions
  • Books: handouts distributed in class to attendees