The course aims to present, in their historical and cultural context, the most significant artistic expressions of a hinge period between classical Antiquity and the Middle Ages for which the historiography of the last century coined the term of Late Antiquity and whose chronological and geographical areas are still the subject of debate and comparison among scholars.

However, it is an era extremely rich in political (the dissolution of the Western Roman Empire; the birth of the Eastern Roman Empire; the affirmation of Islam), religious (the ever-increasing spread of Christianity and its relationship with the persistence of cults and traditions linked to the pagan heritage) and cultural ferments (the meeting between the tradition of classical culture and the new demands that manifested themselves in society), which did not fail to leave a sign in the artistic production of all territories involved, whose common denominator was their economic and cultural relationship with the Mediterranean Sea.

Forms and methods of pilgrimage in the late antique Mediterranean

In Late Antiquity the blue waters of the Mediterranean were crossed not only by large cargo ships that ensured long-distance trade or by equipped war boats but also by transport ships used by those who, for reasons of faith, undertook journeys, often long and risky, to visit the most celebrated sanctuaries of Christianity. The movements of the peregrini, a term that over time took on the meaning that we recognize today, could take place both by sea and by land, but they were still attributable to territories and centers that gravitate around the Mediterranean and towards those loca sancta whose prestige and fame attracted the faithful, also due to the expectation of drawing both physical and spiritual benefits from it. This complex system of sanctuaries has changed greatly over time, but it is possible to know it with the help of written sources and the still impressive monumental remains. During the lessons, some of the most important architectural complexes will be examined and, at the same time, space will be given to the most significant products of pilgrimage art, connected to the vast range of those devotional objects produced within the pilgrimage centers which, with their mobility, encouraged the cult by attracting new waves of faithful to the sanctuaries.

Among the topics that will be addressed are:

General characteristics and definition of pilgrimage (terminological issue)

Forms of pilgrimage in the classical world

Pilgrimage to the Holy Land: the sources Egeria, anonymous from Piacenza)

Pilgrimage to the Holy Land: the monuments of the Holy Sepulcher, Nativity of Bethlehem, Eleona, Kathisma church, Mamre oak

Pilgrimage to the Holy Land: the monuments: Sinai

The sanctuaries of the Stylite saints: Qalat Sim'an and Mons Admirabilis

The sanctuaries of Anatolia: Theodore of Sicyon; St. Nicholas of Zion; St. Thecla; St. Michael Germia

The sanctuary of St. Philip in Hierapolis

The sanctuaries near Constantinople: Kosmidion, Sosthenion, Anaplous

The cult of St. Demetrius in Thessalonica

The sanctuary of Abu Mina in Egypt

The cult of saints in reconquered Africa Carthage Bir Ftouha

The pilgrimage to Rome

The student will have to demonstrate basic knowledge regarding the chronological articulation of the different stages of artistic production in Late Antiquity and of the main characteristics of the various stylistic currents thanks to a correct reading and understanding of the textbooks;

must be able to apply the knowledge acquired in such a way as to be able, through appropriate arguments, to compare and possibly correlate monuments and artefacts of different geographic, chronological or client areas;

must demonstrate the ability to develop independent judgments with respect to controversial issues from an attribution or chronological point of view, through the collection and critical examination of the data deemed useful;

will have to demonstrate autonomy and display effectiveness in communicating the notions and concepts assimilated during the lessons and in the study;

will have to refine those learning skills necessary to undertake the study of artistic production subsequent to Late antiquity.
 

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

Innovative teaching methods

Debate

Course books

A. Marcone, Tarda Antichità- Profilo storico e prospettive storiografiche, Roma Carocci 2020

A collection of essays relating to the topics covered in the lessons will be made available to students on the Moodle platform. Students will have to choose at least five of them as texts to bring to the exam.

Assessment

The exam will consist of an oral test based on verifying the learning of the study texts; the test will use, through the use of slides projected on the computer, the images contained in the textbooks and power points shown during the lessons.

In order to deserve a sufficient evaluation in the assessment, the student must demonstrate that he has at least assimilated the basic concepts and notions contained in the exam preparation texts and explained in the lessons; rewarding elements for a very good or excellent evaluation will be: the ability to correlate certain components of the program with each other; the demonstration of having understood the different interpretations proposed by scholars regarding specific critical issues; the maturity in knowing how to exercise one's own evaluation with respect to the various problems raised, also drawing on the skills acquired in previous preparation; finally, mastery in the use of specific language and terminology most appropriate to the context.

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

Individual study

Course books

A. Marcone, Tarda Antichità- Profilo storico e prospettive storiografiche, Roma Carocci 2020
M. David, Archeologia della tarda Antichità, Milano Mondadori 2021.

Assessment

The exam will consist of an oral test based on verifying the learning of the study texts; the test will use, through the use of slides projected on the computer, the images contained in the textbooks.

In order to deserve a sufficient evaluation in the assessment, the student must demonstrate that he has at least assimilated the basic concepts and notions contained in the exam preparation texts; rewarding elements for a very good or excellent evaluation will be: the ability to correlate certain components of the program with each other; the demonstration of having understood the different interpretations proposed by scholars regarding specific critical issues; the maturity in knowing how to exercise one's own evaluation with respect to the various problems raised, also drawing on the skills acquired in previous preparation; finally, mastery in the use of specific language and terminology most appropriate to the context.

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.