Archaeology

GIORGIO FERRI

Objectives
1) To describe the specificities, meanings and historical course of the religious system of ancient Rome, also in comparison to other ancient religious systems.
2) To assess the role and function of the religious component in the Roman cultural system, in a diachronic and gender perspective.
3) To compare the role, specificities and meanings of the religious component in the Roman cultural system with respect to other cultural spheres of antiquity.
4) Interpreting the significance of the religious component in the Roman cultural system.

There are no prerequisites necessary to attend the course

The course aims to deepen the religious dimension of the cultures of the classical world according to a comparative-historical perspective and in interdisciplinary dialogue with the other teachings of the Department, with particular reference to ancient Rome, from its origins to the Theodosian Codex (8th cent. BCE - 5th cent. CE).

Through the study of the rites, priesthoods, calendar, and literary and archaeological evidence relating to the city of Rome, the territory it controlled or influenced over the centuries, as well as the cultures in dialogue with/against it, the aim is to provide students with a basic mastery of the tools, methods, and skills for research in the field of the History of Religions, a knowledge of the main research directions in the field, with in-depth study of the relevant theoretical-methodological skills, and the ability to communicate and autonomously apply the knowledge, skills and methods acquired, also in relation to other cultural fields and contexts.

1) Gianluca De Sanctis, "La religione a Roma", Carocci Editore 2012
2) Philippe Borgeaud, Francesca Prescendi (eds.), "Religioni antiche", Carocci Editore 2011
3) Enrico Montanari, "Fumosae Imagines", Bulzoni Editore 2009
4) M. Bettini-W. Short (eds.), "Con i Romani. Un'antropologia della cultura antica", Il Mulino 2014: "Introduzione" and essays "Politeismo", "Mito", "Sacrificio" e "Spazio"

It is possible to agree, in addition or as an alternative, on the adoption of books and essays focusing on specific topics or in-depth analyses, also in other languages.

The mode of delivery of this course is fundamentally frontal, with the occasional possibility of adopting the (flipped classroom) mode, i.e. with readings to be discussed in class. At the end of the course, participants are expected to do group work on religions of the ancient world topics assigned by the lecturer, which will make up 25% of the final grade.

Attendance is optional but highly recommended for the achievement of the training objectives of the course. Possible workshop activities may only be carried out by those attending. Active and participatory attendance is also taken into account in the examination (25%).

Oral interview with questions relating to the topics addressed during the course and the reference texts. The examination will focus in particular on the knowledge and understanding of the theoretical and methodological issues addressed, the ability to apply the skills acquired to specific fields of interest and to relate what has been learnt to other SSDs.

Recurrent questions are not foreseen