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 analysis of Greek inscriptions related to prizes offered by Greek cities to winner athletes from the Archaic to the Imperial Time. 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; the second part aims to analyse a selection of funerary and dedicatory inscriptions for athletes and fallen warriors from the Archaic Period to the Imperial Time. 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 a selection of inscriptions, which show the importance of the athletes and of the agonistic victory in the Greek world.

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) Selction of iscriptions from Luigi Moretti, Iscrizioni agonistiche greche, Roma 1953.

3) Further texts available online and in via Veterani, 36

Assessment

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

- They will give rise to evaluations of excellence: the student's possession of good critical and in-depth skills; the ability to connect the main topics dealt with in the course; the use of an appropriate language with respect to the specific nature of the discipline.

- They will give rise to discrete evaluations: the student's possession of a mnemonic knowledge of the contents; a relative critical capacity and connection between the themes dealt with; the use of an appropriate language.

-  They will give rise to sufficient evaluations: the achievement of minimal knowledge on the subjects dealt with by the student, even if there are some training gaps; the use of inappropriate language.

- They will give rise to negative evaluations: difficulty of orientation of the student with respect to the topics dealt with in the exam texts; training gaps; the use of inappropriate language.

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.

Course books

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

2) Luigi Moretti, Iscrizioni agonistiche greche, Roma 1953

Assessment

Oral examination.

- They will give rise to evaluations of excellence: the student's possession of good critical and in-depth skills; the ability to connect the main topics dealt with in the course; the use of an appropriate language with respect to the specific nature of the discipline.

- They will give rise to discrete evaluations: the student's possession of a mnemonic knowledge of the contents; a relative critical capacity and connection between the themes dealt with; the use of an appropriate language.

-  They will give rise to sufficient evaluations: the achievement of minimal knowledge on the subjects dealt with by the student, even if there are some training gaps; the use of inappropriate language.

- They will give rise to negative evaluations: difficulty of orientation of the student with respect to the topics dealt with in the exam texts; training gaps; the use of inappropriate language.

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.