Classical Philology

A.Y. 2024/2025
9
Max ECTS
60
Overall hours
SSD
L-FIL-LET/05
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with a basic counsciousness about the foundations of the philological method and its historical development; a choice of texts and authors from Greek and Latin literature is connected to this purpose.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge: Knowledge of the texts treated in class providing a translation and a text-critical commentary, and placing them, at least in general terms, in their historical-literary context.

Skills: Methodological awareness of the principles of philological study (text criticism and history of the manuscript tradition); skill in using the main methods of bibliographical referencing and bibliographical searches, especially with regard to the editions used or mentioned.
Single course

This course can be attended as a single course.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
Part A (20 hours; 3 credits): Readings from the fourth book of Propertius' "Elegies".
In the first part we will read and philologically comment on elegies from Book IV of Propertius, highlighting their peculiarities compared to Propertius's previous production.
· Part B (20 hours; 3 credits): The tradition on Tiberius in book 57 of Cassius Dio's "Roman History".
Placing excerpts from book 57 of Cassius Dio's "Roman History" at the center of the discussion, read from a philological perspective, aspects of the presentation of the figure of the emperor will also be considered in relation to Tacitus and Suetonius.
· Part C (20 hours; 3 credits): Objectives and methods of classical philology
In continuity with the texts and problems considered in the first two units, the third will provide the opportunity to reflect on the institutional contents and historical development of the studies of classical scholarship.
Prerequisites for admission
Secondary school knowledge of Latin and Greek and of the history of Greek and Latin literatures in their general outlines.
Teaching methods
· formal lectures
· attendance is strongly recommended
Teaching Resources
· Teaching part A: S.J. Heyworth, Sexti Properti Elegi, Oxford 2007.
· Teaching part B: U.Ph. Boissevain, Cassii Dionis Cocceiani Historiarum Romanarum quae supersunt, I-III, Berolini 1895 et seqq.
· Teaching part C: L.D. Reynolds-N.G. Wilson, Scribes and Scholars, Oxford 20134, chapters 1, 2, 3, 5, 6.
· Course hand-outs provided in class and on the VLE Ariel

Non-attending students are invited to contact the lecturer promptly
Assessment methods and Criteria
Oral examination:
· discussion based on the indicated chapters of Reynolds-Wilson (teaching part C)
· translation and appropriate contextualization of Greek and Latin texts addressed in the units A and B

Assessment criteria:
· ability to translate the texts treated during the course
· knowledge of the context of the aforementioned texts
· understanding of the philological method and the historical development of classical philological studies
· critical knowledge of the philological issues proper of the studied texts

Marks are out of 30.
L-FIL-LET/05 - CLASSICAL PHILOLOGY - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
On Fridays, from 3 to 6 p.m.
Papirological Library, Via Festa del Perdono, 5th Floor