Cultures and Religions

The course equips students with knowledge and understanding of the methodological, critical-problematic, and applicative aspects of studying the sacred context in the ancient Near East, employing methodological and theoretical approaches from cognitive archaeology. In particular, the course addresses and analyses case studies that compare different systems of representation and management of sacred space in both urban and extra-urban contexts, highlighting the variability of the fields of investigation and applicability through which disciplinary skills can be developed. Students cultivate autonomous judgment and critical skills in the archaeology of religion and the phenomena of the sacred within the cultures and civilisations of the pre-classical Near East. Consequently, students can apply the knowledge acquired and the specific language learned about the so-called "transversal skills" (autonomy of judgment, communication skills).