Archaeology

EMANUELE MARCELLO CIAMPINI
EMANUELE MARCELLO CIAMPINI

Consistent with the educational objectives of the course of study in which it is included, the course proposes to provide advanced skills regarding the forms of pharaonic culture, with particular attention to the processes of transformation that accompany the development of the founding models of civilisation. Thanks to a targeted selection of working tools and the study of direct sources, students will be able to deepen their skills and critical capacities, he/she will have acquired in the first cycle of studies, in their approach to pharaonic Egypt.

The course aims to offer an in-depth study of Egyptian culture, providing the essential tools needed to develop a critical approach to the discipline. Building on the skills already acquired by students, the course will address specific case studies that will allow them to deepen their understanding of research methodology.

The course requires a basic knowledge of Egyptian civilisation; students who have not taken courses in Egyptology may refer to the volume listed in the bibliography for the bachelor course in Egyptology.

Course topic: ‘OBELISKS. ARCHITECTURE, IDEOLOGY AND DOCTRINE’
Course period: First semester
The course aims to analyse the significance, especially in the New Kingdom, of this type of monument representative of Pharaonic culture. The obelisk will be analysed as a document of royal propaganda, and at the same time, its relationship with religious culture and the temple context will be studied.
Starting from one of the most representative types of monuments of Egyptian civilisation, the course aims to offer a cultural model that accompanied Pharaonic ideology; particular attention will be paid to specific contexts in which the obelisk represents a significant element.
The course may include visits to Roman obelisks.
N.B.: the 6-credit course Code 1061186 corresponds to the first part of the 12-credit course “Cultural Models of Ancient Egypt”, code 10621376.

E.M. Ciampini, Gli obelischi iscritti di Roma, Roma, IPZS, 2004, pp.1-54.
Ch. Kuentz, Obelisques (Catalogue Générale du Musée du Caire), Le Caire, Institut Français d’Archéologie Orientale, 1932 (pdf free).
St. Quirke, The cult of Re. Sun-worship in ancient Egypt, London, Thames & Hudson, 2001.

Further bibliography will be provided during lessons (PPT presentations).
Lesson notes; PPT presentations and materials made available on Classroom.

E.M. Ciampini, Gli obelischi iscritti di Roma, Roma, IPZS, 2004, pp.1-54.
Ch. Kuentz, Obelisques (Catalogue Générale du Musée du Caire), Le Caire, Institut Français d’Archéologie Orientale, 1932 (pdf free).
St. Quirke, The cult of Re. Sun-worship in ancient Egypt, London, Thames & Hudson, 2001.

The course is in-presence. The programme for non-attending students (for justified reasons) must be agreed with the professor.

Given the content of the course, attendance is strongly recommended. For non-attending students, please refer to the section on ‘course structure’.
The presentations used during the lessons will be made available on Classroom.

The final examination consists of an oral test covering the topics of the course and the texts indicated in the bibliography. During the examination, students must demonstrate that they have acquired the necessary skills and methodology to approach the topics covered in the course.
The exam involves a topic chosen by the student, which will be presented in the form of a short thesis. The written text, max. 20 pages, must be sent to the lecturer by email at least one week before the exam date.

Discussion of the short dissertation.
The nature of obelisks / Contextualisation in antiquity and in the post-Pharaonic context / Royal ideology and obelisks.

• Lessons covering the topics in the programme.


• Seminar-style lessons with discussion of individual research projects and final presentation of the topic chosen for the dissertation.


• Visit to Roman obelisks will be organised; the date will be decided during the course (presumably in the last week of teaching in the first semester).