CIRO LO MUZIO

INDEX

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Indian Archaeology and Art History, 2026-27
Central Asian Archaeology and Art History, 2026-27
Hindi Language and Translation I, 2026-27
Exam Sessions 2026 (Archaeology and Art History)
Hindi Language and Translation I and II (2026)
Curriculum and Bibliography, Master's Degree, 2025-26 (Second Semester)

1) 10629662 INDIAN ARCHAEOLOGY AND ART HISTORY, Three-Year Course, 2026-27 2026-27, First Semester (Oriental Languages ​​and Civilizations):

(Classroom Code: txab77kh)

Introduction to the art and architecture of the Indian subcontinent, from the Bronze Age to the 8th century AD.

Indus Valley Civilization (c. 2600-1800 BCE): urban planning, architecture, figurative arts, seals.

From the Vedic period to urbanization in the Gangetic plain (c. 1500-500 BCE).
Protohistory in the Deccan: megaliths and other archaeological evidence from the Iron Age.
The Mauryas (320-185 BCE). Remains of monumental architecture; rock-cut places of worship; dynastic monuments: the "pillars" of Ashoka, morphology, symbolic meaning, and their presumed relationship with Buddhism.
The earliest architectural and artistic testimonies of Buddhism (2nd century BCE – 1st century CE): to analyze the salient themes of the period (the stūpa, the monastery, the figurative arts, patronage), the most significant sites in central and northern India (in particular, Bharhut, Sanci) and some of the main Buddhist rock settlements of the western Deccan (Bhaja, Bedsa, and Karle) will be considered.
The Kushana period (1st-3rd century CE). Analysis of the two figurative traditions with the greatest prestige and impact on the subsequent development of Buddhist iconography—Gandhara art and Mathurā art—and related themes: the formulation of the anthropomorphic image of the Buddha; the formulation of a narrative repertoire; the assimilation and elaboration of figurative and stylistic elements of Western origin; the Kushan dynastic component.
Andhra: The Buddhist Sites of Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda
Fine Arts and Religious Architecture in the Gupta Period (4th-6th Centuries CE): Development of the Hindu Iconographic Repertoire and New Developments in Buddhist Art (the Schools of Mathura and Sarnath).
The Origins and Architectural Typologies of the Hindu Temple.
The Ajanta Rock Monastery.
The Elephanta Sanctuary.
Southern Dynasties, the Pallavas and the Calukyas (6th-8th Centuries CE): Rock-Hewn, Monolithic, and Structural Temples of Mamallapuram. The Origins of the Medieval Hindu Temple: The Rajasimheśvara Temple of Kanchipuram.
Rock-Hewn and Structural Temples of the Calukyas.
Ellora: The Kailasanatha Temple.

Bibliography
Protohistory Handout.
S. Huntington, The Art of Ancient India, Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, New York – Tokyo 1985, following chapters: 2, 3, 4, 5 (pp. 56-85), 6, 8 (pp. 126-130 [Royal Shrines], 150-162 [Mathura]), 9, 10, 12 (Ajanta only), 13, 14, 15, 16.
On the art of Gandhara:
L. Giuliano, Introduzione all'arte del Gandhara, Rome, Artemide, 2010, pp. 15-48.

Schedule
Wednesday, 10:00-12:00, Aula E (former Vetrerie Sciarra)
Thursday, 12:00-14:00, Laboratorio 2 (Marco Polo)
Classes begin: September 30, 2026

2) 10606349 ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY OF ART OF CENTRAL ASIA Undergraduate course, first semester (Course of Archaeological Sciences 1044221 ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY OF ART OF INDIA AND CENTRAL ASIA)

(Classroom Code: 4fjeqvbz)

Introduction to the archaeology of Western Central Asia from the Bronze Age to the 8th century AD.

The course will offer an overview of the archaeological evidence and forms of artistic expression of Western Central Asia from protohistory to the Arab conquest (8th-9th centuries).
Topics:
The Bronze Age: the "Oxus Civilization" and Notes on the Andronovo Culture
The Iron Age and the "Achaemenid Period."
Hellenism in Bactria
Ai Khanum.
Takht-i Sangin: the Oxus Temple.
Nomadic Necropolises: Tillia Tepe and Other Funerary Areas.
Cities, Monuments, and Artistic Production of the Kushan Period.
The City of Dilberjin (Northern Afghanistan).
The Spread of Buddhism: Architecture and Visual Arts of the Buddhist Centers of Bactria/Tokharestan and Margiana.
The Early Middle Ages.
The Cities of Sogdiana: Samarkand (Afrasiab), Penjikent, Varakhsha.
Sogdian Painting: Technique, Style, Iconographic Repertoire.
The Art of Early Medieval Tokharestan.

Bibliography
C. Lo Muzio, Archeologia dell'Asia Centrale preislamica, Mondadori Università 2017, Introduction and chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 (pp. 78-93), 5, 6 (pp. 150-155), 7, 8.

Timetable
Wednesday, 2-4 pm, Room 201 (Marco Polo)
Thursday, 4-6 pm, Room C (formerly Vetrerie Sciarra)
Classes begin: September 30, 2026

3) 10627599 HINDI LANGUAGE AND TRANSLATION I Three-year course (12 credits)

(Classroom Code: gt47chpq)

Program
The course will cover the first twelve chapters of the Hindi Language Course (Milanetti-Gupta, Hoepli, 2007).

The course will begin on September 29, 2026.
During the first week, classes will be scheduled as follows:
- Tuesday, September 29th, 2:00-4:00 PM (C. Lo Muzio, Marco Polo Building, Laboratory 2)
- Wednesday, September 30th, 12:00-2:00 PM (Lettorato, A.K. Singh, former Vetrerie Sciarra, Room 11 Informatica)
- Thursday, October 1st, 2:00-4:00 PM (Lettorato, A. Kumari, former Vetrerie Sciarra, Room C)

Starting in the second week, and for both semesters, the timetable will be as follows:
- Tuesday, 8:00-10:00 AM (Lettorato, A. Kumari, Marco Polo Building, Laboratory 2)
- Tuesday, 2:00-4:00 PM (C. Lo Muzio, Marco Polo Building, Laboratory 2)
- Wednesday, 12:00-2:00 PM (Lettorato, A.K. Singh, former Vetrerie Sciarra, Room 11 Computer Science)
- Thursday, 2:00-4:00 PM (Lettorato, A. Kumari, former Vetrerie Sciarra, Room C).

Timetable
Tuesday, 2:00-4:00 PM, Laboratory 2 (Marco Polo Building)
Classes begin: September 29, 2026

EXAM SESSIONS

Winter session January–February 2026
15 January, 10:00, Room 103 (Marco Polo Building, 1st floor)
5 February, 10:00, Room 106 (Marco Polo Building, 1st floor)
18 February, 10:00, Room 106 (Marco Polo Building, 1st floor). To register, send an email to the teacher (ciro.lomuzio@uniroma1.it); if possible, also indicate the course code and the teaching code.

Extraordinary spring session (2026)
24 April

Summer session 2026
10 June
30 June
15 July

Autumn session 2026
9 September
25 September

Extraordinary autumn session 2026
13 November

Winter session 2027
8 January
28 January
17 February

2)

Hindi Language and Translation I and II – EXAM SESSIONS

Winter session 2026

First session:
Written test: 13 January, 11:00, Laboratory 1 (Marco Polo); register by emailing the teacher (ciro.lomuzio@uniroma1.it) by 11 January
Oral test: 14 January, 11:00, Laboratory 1 (Marco Polo)

Second session:
Written test: 11 February, 11:00, Laboratory 3; register by emailing the teacher (ciro.lomuzio@uniroma1.it) by 9 February
Oral test: 12 February, 11:00, Laboratory 3

3)

Master’s Degree Course a.y. 2025–26 (2nd semester): ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY OF ART OF INDIA AND CENTRAL ASIA

Classroom code: 3dbogdxb

Archaeological research in Eastern Central Asia (Xinjiang)

The course will provide an overview of archaeological research in Xinjiang (China), from the late 19th century to the present.

Bronze and Iron Ages: funerary practices, material culture, relations with Eurasian cultures.
Historical period: history of archaeological research; oasis cultures in southern and northern Xinjiang; Chinese written sources compared with archaeological evidence; the impact of international trade.
Buddhism in Central Asia: modes of diffusion; Central Asian masters and translators; architectural and figurative models.
Urban centers and Buddhist foundations in the oases along the southern and northern edges of the Taklamakan: Loulan, Miran, Khotan, Kashgar, Tumshuq, Kucha, Karashahr and Turfan.
Architecture, figurative arts, material culture.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

GENERAL
Lo Muzio, Ciro. Archeologia dell'Asia Centrale preislamica, Mondadori Università – Milan 2017, Introduction and chapters 7, 9, 10 and 11.

FURTHER READING

Bronze Age
On the Xiaohe necropolis (also known as Ördek Necropolis; Small River no. 5):
Mair, Victor H. The Rediscovery and Complete Excavation of Ördek’s Necropolis. The Journal of Indo-European Studies, 34/3-4, 2006, pp. 273–318

Miran
Filigenzi, Anna, “From Saidu Sharif to Miran”, Indologica Taurinensia, XXXII, 2006, pp. 67–89

Karadong
Keriya, mémoires d’un fleuve. Archéologie et civilisation des oasis du Taklamakan, ed. C. Debaine-Francfort and Abduressul Idris, Paris – Editions Findakly, 2000, pp. 82–105
Lo Muzio, Ciro, “Buddhist Painting in the South of the Tarim Basin: a Chronological Conundrum”

Rawak
Lo Muzio, Ciro, “Some Remarks on Rawak (Khotan Oasis, Xinjiang): The Stūpa, Clay Sculptures and Wall Painting” […]

Kucha Oasis
Santoro, Arcangela, “Dalla Nascita all'Illuminazione: su quattro scene della vita del Buddha storico nella Grotta dei Pavoni (Kizil, Xinjiang)”, Rivista degli studi orientali 2001, Vol. 75, pp. 205–238

Turfan
Konczak, Ines, “Origin, Development and Meaning of the Praṇidhi Paintings on the Northern Silk Road”, in Buddhism and Art in Turfan, Ryukoku University, 2012, pp. 43–55, 71–75

Iconographic sheets (painting and sculpture in Tumshuq, Kucha, Shorchuk, Turfan), limited to the works examined during lectures and included in PowerPoints:
Härtel, Herbert – Yaldiz, Marianne. Along the Ancient Silk Routes, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1982

4)

Bachelor’s Degree Course a.y. 2025–26 (1st semester): ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY OF INDIAN ART

Classroom code: iyegvrwp

Introduction to the art and architecture of the Indian Subcontinent, from the Bronze Age to the 8th century CE.

Indus Valley Civilization (ca. 2600–1800 BCE): urban planning, architecture, figurative arts, seals.
From the Vedic period to urbanization in the Ganges plain (ca. 1500–500 BCE).
Protohistory in the Deccan: megaliths and other Iron Age archaeological evidence.
The Mauryas (320–185 BCE): monumental architecture; rock-cut sanctuaries; dynastic monuments such as Aśoka’s pillars—their morphology, symbolic meaning, and relationship with Buddhism.
Earliest Buddhist architecture and art (2nd century BCE – 1st century CE): stūpa, monastery, figurative arts, patronage; sites such as Bharhut, Sanchi, and Deccan cave sites (Bhaja, Bedsa, Karle).
Kushan period (1st–3rd century CE): Gandhāra and Mathurā art; emergence of the anthropomorphic Buddha; narrative imagery; western influences; Kushan dynastic aspects.
Andhra: Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda.
Gupta period (4th–6th century CE): Hindu iconography and Buddhist developments (Mathura and Sarnath schools).
Origins and types of Hindu temples.
Ajanta caves.
Elephanta sanctuary.
Southern dynasties: Pallavas and Chalukyas (6th–8th century CE): Mamallapuram temples; Rājasimheśvara temple in Kanchipuram.
Ellora: Kailasanatha temple.

Bibliography
Handout on protohistory.
S. Huntington, The Art of Ancient India, 1985 (selected chapters).
L. Giuliano, An Introduction to Gandhāran Art, 2010, pp. 15–48.

Schedule
Wednesday, 10–12, Room E (ex Vetrerie)
Thursday, 12–14, Laboratory 2 (Marco Polo)
Start of classes: 8 October 2025

5)

Bachelor’s Degree Course a.y. 2025–26 (1st semester): ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY OF CENTRAL ASIAN ART

Classroom code: qdcprsao

Introduction to the archaeology of Western Central Asia from the Bronze Age to the 8th century CE.

Topics:
Bronze Age: Oxus Civilization; Andronovo culture
Iron Age and Achaemenid period
Hellenism in Bactria
Ai Khanum
Takht-i Sangin: Temple of the Oxus
Nomadic necropolises: Tillia Tepe
Kushan cities and art
Dilberjin
Spread of Buddhism in Bactria/Tokharistan and Margiana
Early Middle Ages
Sogdian cities: Samarkand (Afrasiab), Penjikent, Varakhsha
Sogdian painting: technique, style, iconography
Art of early medieval Tokharistan

Bibliography
Lo Muzio, Archeologia dell'Asia Centrale preislamica, selected chapters.

Schedule
Wednesday, 14–16, Lab 2 (Marco Polo)
Thursday, 16–18, Room 104 (Marco Polo)
Start: 8 October 2025

6)

HINDI LANGUAGE AND TRANSLATION I (annual, 12 ECTS)

Classroom code: jlkbhs6h

Chapters 1–12 of Corso di Lingua Hindi (Milanetti–Gupta, Hoepli, 2007).
During the exam, students must demonstrate the ability to read, translate texts, complete exercises, and answer grammar questions.

Schedule
Tuesday, 14–16, Lab 2 (Marco Polo)
Start: 7 October 2025

7)

HINDI LANGUAGE AND TRANSLATION II (annual, 12 ECTS)

Classroom code: w2opvtrh

Chapters 1–20 of Corso di Lingua Hindi (Milanetti–Gupta, Hoepli, 2007)
Texts: Translation of the short story “Baalak” (Premchand)

Schedule
Tuesday, 10–12, Lab 1 (Marco Polo)
Start: 7 October 2025