The course offers a methodological basis concerning Greek epigraphy. Its purpose is to introduce the discipline’s main investigating instruments to students and to offer a specific knowledge of the principal archaic alphabets, of the evolution of writing between the 8th century BC and the Roman imperial times and of the different types of inscriptions. The course provides the students with specific skills to read and understand Greek inscriptions, leading to a more specific dating of archaic, classical and hellenistic-imperial inscriptions. The course also aims at a comparative analysis of inscriptions with other historical and literary sources. To illustrate the significance of the epigraphic material, in a case study some historical inscriptions will be analysed in comparison with corresponding passages of Herodotus. The course’s main objective, therefore, is to analyse the inscriptions with an interdisciplinary approach as historical, archeological and literary sources.

The main focus of epigraphic research is a holistic approach to documents written on hard support material. Regarding the Greek world, it allows us to study documents that are the only contemporary sources for certain periods of Greek history, in particular for the archaic and classical period, which is supplemented by papyri founding only from the Hellenistic age onwards. The course introduces the students to Greek epigraphy, leading them to use the inscriptions as a historical source. The first part of the course therefore introduces Greek epigraphy; in the second part some inscriptions directly linked with Herodotus’ Historiae will be studied. In details, the introduction deals with the birth of the Greek alphabet between the 9th and 8th c. BC and its evolution until the imperial age; the principal Greek alphabets prior to the reform of Euclides (403 BC); the different typologies of inscriptions (such as votive and honorary dedications, decrets, ostraca, funerary inscriptions). The second part analyses some historical inscriptions, which offer a complementary view to the historical work of Herodotus, with particular attention to the dedications of Croesus to Amphiaraos, to the decret of Themistocles and to the battles of Marathon (490 BC), Salamis (480 BC) and Plataia (479 BC).

Even if there are no specific prerequisites for participants, basic knowledge of ancient Greek language is expected.

The expected outcome of the course is basic knowledge of Greek epigraphy. In particular, the students will be able to work with and to contextualise the epigraphic material within the correct geographical and chronological references. Furthermore, Greek epigraphy with its interdisciplinary approach offers various applications in the field of history, philology and archeology. It also leads to a better understanding of complex problems and to the ability to develope new interpretive perspectives, which are based on scientifically correct methodology and on the analysis of the sources. Last but not least, the course aims at developing the students’ communication skills, both for specialists and the interested public.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

In addition to the lectures, the course consists of some exercises related to the Greek alphabets and direct reading of inscription through photographs and squeezes.

Teaching

Lectures and exercises.

Attendance

The attendance of the course is not mandatory, even though it is highly recommended because of the exercises and the direct reading of inscriptions during the class.

Course books

1) Margherita Guarducci, L’epigrafia greca dalle origini al tardo impero, Roma, Istituto poligrafico e zecca dello Stato, 1987, in particolare pp. 1-88; 91-103; 111-130; 155-180; 320-325.

2) Further didactic material for the examination will be available online. The didactic material will be taken for the most part from:

A) Russell Meiggs, David Lewis, A Selection of Greek Historical Inscriptions to the End of the Fifth Century B.C., Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1969; revised edition 1988.

B) Marco Tentori Montalto, Essere primi per il valore. Gli epigrammi funerari greci su pietra per i caduti in guerra dall'età arcaica alla fine del V sec. a.C., Pisa-Roma, Fabrizio Serra, 2017. 

Assessment

Oral examination. The classroom exercises will not be part of the final result.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Attendance

The non-attending students are obliged to consult the lecturer for the didactic material for the examination. In addition to the reference manual, the study of some inscriptions from the following monograph is scheduled: Marco Tentori Montalto, Essere primi per il valore. Gli epigrammi funerari greci su pietra per i caduti in guerra dall'età arcaica alla fine del V sec. a.C., Pisa-Roma, Fabrizio Serra, 2017.

Course books

1) Margherita Guarducci, L’epigrafia greca dalle origini al tardo impero, Roma, Istituto poligrafico e zecca dello Stato, 1987.

2) Marco Tentori Montalto, Essere primi per il valore. Gli epigrammi funerari greci su pietra per i caduti in guerra dall'età arcaica alla fine del V sec. a.C., Pisa-Roma, Fabrizio Serra, 2017

Assessment

Oral examination.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.