Philology, literatures and history of the ancient world

Classes will discuss a selection of Greek and Latin texts, in order to introduce the main issues related to the history of the transmission and textual criticism of ancient literature. In particular, we will focus on texts exemplifying various literary genres and a variety of textual problems (medieval direct transmission; fragmentary papyrological transmission; indirect transmission): a) a selection of fragments of Sappho, Sappho’s Epistle to Phaon, texts of Latin lyric poetry; and b) sections from Aeschylus’ Agamemnon and Seneca’s Agamemnon.

A good knowledge of Latin and ancient Greek (intermediate level); a basic knowledge of Greek and Roman history and literature; a basic knowledge of textual criticism and of the history of classical philology. Students should also be able to read academic texts in English.

For Sappho, the reference critical edition will be C. Neri, Saffo. Testimonianze e frammenti, De Gruyter, Berlin/Boston 2021. For Aeschylus our starting point will be the critical edition of M.L. West, Aeschyli Agamemnon, Bibliotheca Scriptorum Graecorum et Romanorum Teubneriana, De Gruyter, Berlin/New York, 2008. Recommended bilingual annotated edition: E. Medda, L. Battezzato, M.P. Pattoni, Eschilo, Orestea. (BUR Classici Greci e Latini), Rizzoli, Milano, 2010. For Seneca our starting point will be the critical edition of O. Zwierlein, L. Annaei Senecae Tragoediae, recognovit (...) O Zwierlein, Oxford Classical Texts, Oxford, 1986 (and later corrected reprints). Recommended bilingual annotated edition: L. Anneo Seneca, Agamennone, a c. di A. Perutelli e G. Paduano, (BUR Classici Greci e Latini), Rizzoli, Milano, 1995. Further bibliographical material will be indicated during the course.

Students who are unable to attend classes should contact the teacher.

There will be an oral test at the end of the course. The test will assess the degree of basic knowledge of the subject and the ability of the students to communicate the knowledge acquired and to use it to make personal judgments. The minimum threshold to pass the exam is 18/30: to achieve this score the student must demonstrate that he has reached a sufficient knowledge of all the topics of the course. To achieve the maximum score (30/30 cum laude), the student must demonstrate that they have acquired an excellent knowledge of all the topics covered during the course and that they are able to present them in appropriate language and to elaborate them in a personal and consistent way.

Lectures; students’ presentations on agreed topics. Students who are unable to attend classes should contact the teacher.

Classes will discuss a selection of Greek and Latin texts, in order to introduce the main issues related to the history of the transmission and textual criticism of ancient literature. In particular, we will focus on texts exemplifying various literary genres and a variety of textual problems (medieval direct transmission; fragmentary papyrological transmission; indirect transmission): a) a selection of fragments of Sappho, Sappho’s Epistle to Phaon, texts of Latin lyric poetry; and b) sections from Aeschylus’ Agamemnon and Seneca’s Agamemnon.

A good knowledge of Latin and ancient Greek (intermediate level); a basic knowledge of Greek and Roman history and literature; a basic knowledge of textual criticism and of the history of classical philology. Students should also be able to read academic texts in English.

For Sappho, the reference critical edition will be C. Neri, Saffo. Testimonianze e frammenti, De Gruyter, Berlin/Boston 2021. For Aeschylus our starting point will be the critical edition of M.L. West, Aeschyli Agamemnon, Bibliotheca Scriptorum Graecorum et Romanorum Teubneriana, De Gruyter, Berlin/New York, 2008. Recommended bilingual annotated edition: E. Medda, L. Battezzato, M.P. Pattoni, Eschilo, Orestea. (BUR Classici Greci e Latini), Rizzoli, Milano, 2010. For Seneca our starting point will be the critical edition of O. Zwierlein, L. Annaei Senecae Tragoediae, recognovit (...) O Zwierlein, Oxford Classical Texts, Oxford, 1986 (and later corrected reprints). Recommended bilingual annotated edition: L. Anneo Seneca, Agamennone, a c. di A. Perutelli e G. Paduano, (BUR Classici Greci e Latini), Rizzoli, Milano, 1995. Further bibliographical material will be indicated during the course.

Students who are unable to attend classes should contact the teacher.

There will be an oral test at the end of the course. The test will assess the degree of basic knowledge of the subject and the ability of the students to communicate the knowledge acquired and to use it to make personal judgments. The minimum threshold to pass the exam is 18/30: to achieve this score the student must demonstrate that he has reached a sufficient knowledge of all the topics of the course. To achieve the maximum score (30/30 cum laude), the student must demonstrate that they have acquired an excellent knowledge of all the topics covered during the course and that they are able to present them in appropriate language and to elaborate them in a personal and consistent way.

Lectures; students’ presentations on agreed topics. Students who are unable to attend classes should contact the teacher.

Homer, Odissey, book 4, ed. a cura di A. Heubeck, trad. di G. A. Privitera, Fondazione Lorenzo Valla, 1983 e successive edizioni Livy, a selection of chapters from books IV and V (the text will be made available in the handouts) G. Cavallo, Scrivere e leggere nella città antica, Roma, Carocci 2019 (only two chapters). A. Ercolani, Omero, Roma, Carocci 2006 (only chapters 8, 9 e 10) The remaining set texts will be made available in the handouts. Further bibliography will be provided during the classes. Students who have not previously taken undergraduate courses in Classical philology should also read L.D. Reynolds and N.G. Wilson, Scribes and Scholars, Oxford 2013 (fourth ed.)

A good knowledge of Latin and ancient Greek (intermediate level); a basic knowledge of Greek and Roman history and literature; a basic knowledge of textual criticism and of the history of classical philology. Students should also be able to read academic texts in English and French.

Homer, Odissey, book 4, ed. a cura di A. Heubeck, trad. di G. A. Privitera, Fondazione Lorenzo Valla, 1983 e successive edizioni G. Cavallo, Scrivere e leggere nella città antica, Roma, Carocci 2019. A. Ercolani, Omero, Carocci 2006. The remaining set texts will be made available in the handouts. Further bibliography will be provided during the classes. Students who have not previously taken undergraduate courses in Classical philology should also read L.D. Reynolds and N.G. Wilson, Scribes and Scholars, Oxford 2013 (fourth ed.)

Students who are unable to attend classes should contact the teacher.

There will be an oral test at the end of the course. The test will assess the degree of basic knowledge of the subject and the ability of the students to communicate the knowledge acquired and to use it to make personal judgments. The minimum threshold to pass the exam is 18/30: to achieve this score the students must have reached a sufficient knowledge of all the topics of the course. To achieve the maximum score (30/30 cum laude), the students must demonstrate that they have acquired an excellent knowledge of all the topics covered during the course and that they are able to present them in appropriate language and to elaborate them in a personal and consistent way.

Lectures; students’ presentations on agreed topics.

Homer, Odissey, book 4, ed. a cura di A. Heubeck, trad. di G. A. Privitera, Fondazione Lorenzo Valla, 1983 e successive edizioni Livy, a selection of chapters from books IV and V (the text will be made available in the handouts) G. Cavallo, Scrivere e leggere nella città antica, Roma, Carocci 2019 (only two chapters). A. Ercolani, Omero, Roma, Carocci 2006 (only chapters 8, 9 e 10) The remaining set texts will be made available in the handouts. Further bibliography will be provided during the classes. Students who have not previously taken undergraduate courses in Classical philology should also read L.D. Reynolds and N.G. Wilson, Scribes and Scholars, Oxford 2013 (fourth ed.)

A good knowledge of Latin and ancient Greek (intermediate level); a basic knowledge of Greek and Roman history and literature; a basic knowledge of textual criticism and of the history of classical philology. Students should also be able to read academic texts in English and French.

Homer, Odissey, book 4, ed. a cura di A. Heubeck, trad. di G. A. Privitera, Fondazione Lorenzo Valla, 1983 e successive edizioni G. Cavallo, Scrivere e leggere nella città antica, Roma, Carocci 2019. A. Ercolani, Omero, Carocci 2006. The remaining set texts will be made available in the handouts. Further bibliography will be provided during the classes. Students who have not previously taken undergraduate courses in Classical philology should also read L.D. Reynolds and N.G. Wilson, Scribes and Scholars, Oxford 2013 (fourth ed.)

Students who are unable to attend classes should contact the teacher.

There will be an oral test at the end of the course. The test will assess the degree of basic knowledge of the subject and the ability of the students to communicate the knowledge acquired and to use it to make personal judgments. The minimum threshold to pass the exam is 18/30: to achieve this score the students must have reached a sufficient knowledge of all the topics of the course. To achieve the maximum score (30/30 cum laude), the students must demonstrate that they have acquired an excellent knowledge of all the topics covered during the course and that they are able to present them in appropriate language and to elaborate them in a personal and consistent way.

Lectures; students’ presentations on agreed topics.