The course intends to reflect on figures of "wise men" in ancient Greece, examining Solon and his work and then Anacharsis, in the work of the same name by Lucian.
The aim is to highlight some relevant methodological issues of philological investigation, historical-literary investigation and the history of thought and mentality, through the concrete study of sapiential figures that have become paradigmatic in the course of antiquity.

The first part of the course, in the first semester, will focus on reading and commenting on Solon's poetic production.
In the second part, which will begin in the second semester, the reading of Lucian, Anacharsis will be addressed.
The texts will be read in the original language and commented analytically. Significant aspects of the sapiential figure of the poet, the intellectual, the thinker will emerge.

From the point of view of the specific information obtained, at the end of the course the student is expected to have acquired an in-depth knowledge of a cultural aspect of central value in the history of ancient Greek mentality.

More generally, and well in line with the professional curriculum profile, the process of analytical reading of the chosen texts will have a significant impact on the student's ability to deal with a competent and rigorous reading of the proposed texts (literary, dramatic, philosophical, and other tipologies which may be presented during the lessons), developing analytical skills, close reading, synthesis and critical thinking about data and sources. The set of skills acquired will allow the student to formulate philologically (scientifically) correct hypotheses, based on new texts or new sets of texts (data, sources, literary texts).

From the point of view of general education, the student will deepen his awareness of specific methodological aspects characterizing the philological and historical-literary inquiry, as well as his aesthetic sensibility to the formal, narrative, and rhetorical aspects of literary poetry and prose.

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

Teaching

Frontal lessons with information and supplementary materials in blended mode.

Exercises in ancient greek metrics will be provided for a correct reading of Solon's lines.

Attendance

A solid knowledge of the ancient Greek language is strictly required.

Attending students are requested to regularly take part in lectures, to an extent of at least two thirds of the total.

The student is required to read all the texts foreseen in the program, which s/he will have to translate and comment on according to the lines indicated in the course.

The student is also required to scrupulously read the study texts indicated in the program and any other text recommended by the professor during the lessons.

The student is also required to show a knowledge of Greek literature with particular attention to the parts (authors, works, historical-literary periods) that have been the subject of the course.

Course books

I. Editions: 

Poetarum elegiacorum testimonia et fragmenta, ediderunt Bruno Gentili et Carolus Prato I, Teubner, Leipzig 1988, pp. 61-126

Iambi et elegi graeci ante Alexandrum cantati II, edidit M.L. West, Oxford University Press, Oxford 1998, pp. 139-165

Luciani Opera II, recognovit brevique adnotatione critica instruxit M.D. Macleod, Oxford University Press, Oxford 1974

II. Handbook of Ancient Greek Literature:

The student is required to read the sections concerning archaic epic and philosophical literature (with particular attention to Platonic production) in one of the following handbooks:

- L.E. Rossi (Firenze, Le Monnier, 1995)

- G.A. Privitera - R. Pretagostini (Torino, Einaudi, 1997)

 - F. Montanari (Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1998)

III. Supplementary readings (mandatory)

A. On Solon:

the student is required to read one of the following essays:

- Victor Ehrenberg From Solon to Socrates Greek history and civilization during the 6th and 5th centuries b.c, Routledge, London New Yorw 2011 (1° ed. 1968)

- Solon of Athens. New Historical and Philological Approaches, edited by J.H. Blok, A.P.M.H. Lardinois, Brill, Leiden-Boston 2006

and two of the following articles:

- G. Tedeschi, Solone e lo spazio della comunicazione elegiaca, QUCC 10, 1982, pp. 33-46

- P. Melissano, Solone e il mondo degli ἐσθλοί, QUCC 47, 1994, pp. 49-58

- K. Stoddard, The Tables on the Audience: Didactic Technique in Solon 13w, The American Journal of Philology 123, 2022, pp. 149-168

- F. Blaise, Poésie, politique, religion. Solon entre les dieux et les hommes (L’Eunomie et l’Elégie aux Muses, 4 et 13 West), Revue de Philolophie Ancienne 23, 2005, pp. 3-40

- R. Gagné, Spilling the Sea out of Its Cup: Solon’s Elegy to the Muses, QUCC 91, 2009, pp. 23-49

- F. Blaise, La mer juste: Solon 12 W, Revue des études grecques 124, 2011, pp. 535-547

- G. Cerri, L’agora ephoria di Dracone e l’elegia Salamina di Solone: tra legge orale e legge scritta, QUCC 105, 2013, pp. 45-52

- W. Henderson, Elemental Imagery in Solon, Acta Classica 58, 2015, pp. 47-69

- Ch. C. Chiasson, Solon’s Poetry and Herodotean Historiography, The American Journal of Philology 137, 2016, pp. 25-60

B. On Lucian:

the student is required to read one of the following essays:

- Jacques Bompaire, Lucien écrivain: imitation et creation, E. De Boccard, Paris 1958

- R. Bracht Branham, Unruly Eloquence. Lucian and the Comedy of Traditions, Harvard University Press, Cambridge Ma., London Engl. 1989

- P. Angeli Bernardini, Luciano Anacarsi o sull’atletica, Edizioni Biblioteca dell’immagine, Pordenone 1995

- A. Camerotto, Le metamorfosi della parola. Studi sulla parodia in Luciano di Samosata, Istituti editoriali e poligrafici internazionali, Pisa-Roma 1998

and two of the following articles:

- Ph. R. Bosman, Lucian among the Cynics: the “Zeus Refuted” and Cynic Tradition, The Classical Quarterly, 62, 2012, pp. 785-795

- E. Norman Gardiner, Regulations for a Local Sports Meeting, The Classical Review 43, 1929, pp. 210-212

- Silvia Montiglio, Wandering Philosophers in Classical Greece, The Journal of Hellenic Studies  120, 2000, pp. 86-105

D. In general on the representation of the "wise man" in ancient Greece the student will read one of the following essays:

- M. Detienne, I maestri di verità nella Grecia arcaica, Laterza, Bari, 1977

- S. Shankman, S. Durrant, The Siren and the Sage. Knowledge and wisdom in Ancient Greece and China, Cassel, London and New York 2000

- G.E.R. Lloyd, The Delusions of Invulnerability. Wisdom and Morality in Ancient Greece, China and Today, Bloomsbury, London, New Delhi, New York, Sydney 2005

- Chr.L. Johnstone, Listening to the Logos. Speech and the Coming of Wisdom in Ancient Greece, The University of South Carolina Press, 2011

E. For the Greek metrics (and the hexameter, in particular), the reading of the manual of B. Gentili, L. Lomiento, Metrics and Rhythmics. History of poetic forms in ancient Greece, Pisa-Roma 2008, is recommended.

F. The student is also required to read, in Italian translation (in one of the editions with the text currently in circulation), the following works:

- Plutarch, Life of Solon

- Lucian, Toxaris or Friendhip

Should not the indicated texts be available at the University Library, they will be provided by the teacher.

Assessment

Oral examination:

- the oral exam includes general questions on the topic of the course and a translation test, with commentary, of portions of text from the texts included in the program. It is aimed at ascertaining the in-depth knowledge of the authors and of the ancient texts covered by the course, read in the original language, and of the complementary bibliography indicated in the vademecum.

Evaluations will be sized as follows:

assessments of excellence: an excellent knowledge of the ancient Greek language; the student's possession of good critical and in-depth skills; knowing how to relate safely the main issues addressed in the course; the use of a language appropriate to the specificity of the discipline.

discrete assessments: a fair knowledge of the ancient Greek language; the student's possession of a mnemonic knowledge of the contents; a modest critical capacity and connection between the topics discussed: the use of an appropriate language.

sufficient assessment: a sufficient knowledge of the ancient Greek language; the achievement of a minimal knowledge base on the topics dealt with by the student, even in the presence of some training gaps; the use of inappropriate language.

negative evaluations: an insufficient knowledge of the ancient Greek language; 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.

Teaching

Information and supplementary materials are provided in blended mode.

Attendance

The student is required to read all the texts in the program, which must be translated and commented according to the lines indicated in the course.

It is absolutely necessary to have a solid knowledge of the Greek language.

The student is required to read carefully the study texts planned.

The student is required to show knowledge of Greek literature with special attention to the parts (authors, works, historical-literary periods) that have been the subject of the course.

Course books

I. Editions: 

Poetarum elegiacorum testimonia et fragmenta, ediderunt Bruno Gentili et Carolus Prato I, Teubner, Leipzig 1988, pp. 61-126

Iambi et elegi graeci ante Alexandrum cantati II, edidit M.L. West, Oxford University Press, Oxford 1998, pp. 139-165

Luciani Opera II, recognovit brevique adnotatione critica instruxit M.D. Macleod, Oxford University Press, Oxford 1974

II. Handbook of Ancient Greek Literature:

The student is required to read the sections concerning archaic epic and philosophical literature (with particular attention to Platonic production) in one of the following handbooks:

- L.E. Rossi (Firenze, Le Monnier, 1995)

- G.A. Privitera - R. Pretagostini (Torino, Einaudi, 1997)

 - F. Montanari (Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1998)

III. Supplementary readings (mandatory)

A. On Solon:

the student is required to read one of the following essays:

- Victor Ehrenberg From Solon to Socrates Greek history and civilization during the 6th and 5th centuries b.c, Routledge, London New Yorw 2011 (1° ed. 1968)

- Solon of Athens. New Historical and Philological Approaches, edited by J.H. Blok, A.P.M.H. Lardinois, Brill, Leiden-Boston 2006

and two of the following articles:

- G. Tedeschi, Solone e lo spazio della comunicazione elegiaca, QUCC 10, 1982, pp. 33-46

- P. Melissano, Solone e il mondo degli ἐσθλοί, QUCC 47, 1994, pp. 49-58

- K. Stoddard, The Tables on the Audience: Didactic Technique in Solon 13w, The American Journal of Philology 123, 2022, pp. 149-168

- F. Blaise, Poésie, politique, religion. Solon entre les dieux et les hommes (L’Eunomie et l’Elégie aux Muses, 4 et 13 West), Revue de Philolophie Ancienne 23, 2005, pp. 3-40

- R. Gagné, Spilling the Sea out of Its Cup: Solon’s Elegy to the Muses, QUCC 91, 2009, pp. 23-49

- F. Blaise, La mer juste: Solon 12 W, Revue des études grecques 124, 2011, pp. 535-547

- G. Cerri, L’agora ephoria di Dracone e l’elegia Salamina di Solone: tra legge orale e legge scritta, QUCC 105, 2013, pp. 45-52

- W. Henderson, Elemental Imagery in Solon, Acta Classica 58, 2015, pp. 47-69

- Ch. C. Chiasson, Solon’s Poetry and Herodotean Historiography, The American Journal of Philology 137, 2016, pp. 25-60

B. On Lucian:

the student is required to read one of the following essays:

- Jacques Bompaire, Lucien écrivain: imitation et creation, E. De Boccard, Paris 1958

- R. Bracht Branham, Unruly Eloquence. Lucian and the Comedy of Traditions, Harvard University Press, Cambridge Ma., London Engl. 1989

- P. Angeli Bernardini, Luciano Anacarsi o sull’atletica, Edizioni Biblioteca dell’immagine, Pordenone 1995

- A. Camerotto, Le metamorfosi della parola. Studi sulla parodia in Luciano di Samosata, Istituti editoriali e poligrafici internazionali, Pisa-Roma 1998

and two of the following articles:

- Ph. R. Bosman, Lucian among the Cynics: the “Zeus Refuted” and Cynic Tradition, The Classical Quarterly, 62, 2012, pp. 785-795

- E. Norman Gardiner, Regulations for a Local Sports Meeting, The Classical Review 43, 1929, pp. 210-212

- Silvia Montiglio, Wandering Philosophers in Classical Greece, The Journal of Hellenic Studies  120, 2000, pp. 86-105

D. In general on the representation of the "wise man" in ancient Greece the student will read one of the following essays:

- M. Detienne, I maestri di verità nella Grecia arcaica, Laterza, Bari, 1977

- S. Shankman, S. Durrant, The Siren and the Sage. Knowledge and wisdom in Ancient Greece and China, Cassel, London and New York 2000

- G.E.R. Lloyd, The Delusions of Invulnerability. Wisdom and Morality in Ancient Greece, China and Today, Bloomsbury, London, New Delhi, New York, Sydney 2005

- Chr.L. Johnstone, Listening to the Logos. Speech and the Coming of Wisdom in Ancient Greece, The University of South Carolina Press, 2011

E. For the Greek metrics (and the hexameter, in particular), the reading of the manual of B. Gentili, L. Lomiento, Metrics and Rhythmics. History of poetic forms in ancient Greece, Pisa-Roma 2008, is recommended.

F. The student is also required to read, in Italian translation (in one of the editions with the text currently in circulation), the following works:

- Plutarch, Life of Solon

- Lucian, Toxaris or Friendhip

Further bibliography will eventually be indicated by the teacher during the lessons.

Should not the indicated texts be available at the University Library, they will be provided by the teacher.

Assessment

Oral examination:

- the oral exam includes general questions on the topic of the course and a translation test, with commentary, of portions of text from the texts included in the program. It is aimed at ascertaining the in-depth knowledge of the authors and of the ancient texts covered by the course, read in the original language, and of the complementary bibliography indicated in the vademecum.

Evaluations will be sized as follows:

assessments of excellence: an excellent knowledge of the ancient Greek language; the student's possession of good critical and in-depth skills; knowing how to relate safely the main issues addressed in the course; the use of a language appropriate to the specificity of the discipline.

discrete assessments: a fair knowledge of the ancient Greek language; the student's possession of a mnemonic knowledge of the contents; a modest critical capacity and connection between the topics discussed: the use of an appropriate language.

sufficient assessment: a sufficient knowledge of the ancient Greek language; the achievement of a minimal knowledge base on the topics dealt with by the student, even in the presence of some training gaps; the use of inappropriate language.

negative evaluations: an insufficient knowledge of the ancient Greek language; 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.