PAPYROLOGY AND CLASSICAL PHILOLOGY
cod. 1004626

Academic year 2019/20
2° year of course - First semester
Professor responsible for the course unit
ROTA Gualtiero
integrated course unit
12 credits
hub: PARMA
course unit
in ITALIAN

Course unit structured in the following modules:

Learning objectives

Unit 1
Classical Philology (Prof. Rota)

The first part of the course aims at introducing students to the basics of Classical Philology and its methodology.
The second part of the course, through selected readings, focuses on historical, cultutral and literary dynamics occurring within Classical Philology and Antiquarianism.

- Knowledge and understanding
Through specific class activities, seminars and lectures the course will provide students with critical understanding of the literary and cultural background of Classical Philology.

- Applying knowledge and understanding
The study of the historical context and the analysis of the most characterizing aspects of the very first outcomes and application of Classical Philology will provide students with a general understanding of the main developments of the discipline. Students will so be given the possibility to broaden their literary spectrum and to better place historical and literary issues in their proper context. This will possibly result in a more complete understanding of the problems linked to the constitution textus.

- Making judgements
Thanks to theoretical and practical knowledge acquired during classes, students should be able to critically read and interpret ancient Greek and Latin texts, and thus be able to make personal judgements on ancient works and on their social and cultural background.

- Communication skills
At the end of the course students should be able to:
1) properly present a variety of technical topics linked to the constitutio textus;
2) properly read texts and critical apparatus.

- Learning skills
The course aims at providing students with methodological and learning skills useful for future employment (with particular reference to teaching and communication).

Unit 2
Papyrology (Prof. Reggiani)

The aim is to improve competence in the discipline of Papyrology (advancing skills in reading papyrus texts and using the bibliographical and digital instruments to deepen a correct understanding of interdisciplinary aspects offered by the sources) and to acquire secure skills for evaluating the contribution of sources to the history of the text. Introduction to a proper and responsible method of reading, interpretation and study of literary and documentary texts found on papyri (workshops on unpublished texts are also envisaged).

Prerequisites

Prerequisites are competence in both basic Papyrological skills, in classical languages (Greek and Latin), and in a historical or cultural area such as Greek and Latin Literature, Greek History, Roman History, and Classical Archaeology.

Course unit content

Unit 1
Classical Philology (Prof. Rota)

The first part of the course will focus on literary institutions and critical methodology, with particular reference to:
- evolution of Classical Philology;
- intertextuality and hypertextuality:
- early stages of Classical Philology;
- formal and literary aspects.

The second part of the course will focus on the relationship between Philology and Antiquarianism.

Unit 2
Papyrology (Prof. Reggiani)

1) Papyri as objects and sources: text and context
2) Critical edition of papyri: deciphering, transcribing, interpreting (with basics of Greek and Latin palaeography)
3) Papyri as literary sources (philological, linguistic and scribal variants; papyri and ancient literature)
4) Papyri and ancient book production
5) (Para)literary papyri as historical sources
6) Digital papyrology and the development of a new concept of “critical edition”

Full programme

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Bibliography

Unit 1
Classical Philology (Prof. Rota)

- L.D. Reynolds - N.G. Wilson, Copisti e filologi. La tradizione dei classici dall’antichità ai tempi moderni, Padova 1987 (selected passages).

- M. West, 'Critica del testo e tecnica dell'edizione', Palermo 1991 (selected passasse)

Non-attending students must get in contact the the teacher for information on bibliography

Unit 2
Papyrology (Prof. Reggiani)

E.G. Turner, Papiri greci, ed. it. a c. di M. Manfredi, Roma: Carocci, 2002.
R.S. Bagnall: Papiri e storia antica, ed. it. a c. di M. Capasso, Roma: Bardi, 2007
H. Blanck, Il libro nel mondo antico, ed. it. a c. di R. Otranto, Bardi: Dedalo, 2008

Teaching methods

Unit 1
Classical Philology (Prof. Rota)

The course consists of classroom lectures supplemented by weekly tutorials.
Through classroom lectures students will be guided to a first methodological approach for the study of different texts according to the specific editorial process.
Classroom lectures will be supplemented by practice sessions and tutorials to support students in gaining the resources and skills needed to properly read texts.
Tutorial activities will be scaled up and down according to students’ abilities and needs.

Unit 2
Papyrology (Prof. Reggiani)
The course consists of classroom lectures supplemented by weekly
tutorials.
In particular, about the papirology unit:
lessons, seminars or meetings. Ppt projections and seminar materials prepared for each session prior to attending class. A written paper concerning a pattern of a text edition will be required at the end of the course. A specialized Seminar will deal with the transcription and study of unpublished texts. A training in the use of bibliographical instruments to deepen a correct understanding of interdisciplinary aspects offered by the sources is also included.

Assessment methods and criteria

Students will be assessed by an oral examination based on the readings
and other material used in the course.
The assessment aims to test:
1) proper knowledge and critical understanding of the history of classical texts and proper knowledge and critical understanding of papirology;
2) proper reading and translation of classical texts;
3) critical and interpretation skills along with the ability to produce
personal reinterpretation and interdisciplinary links;
4) oral proficiency; correct use of language; ability to give proper answers
to given questions.
Students will have to fully achieve the first two assessment criteria and
score a minimum of 60 percent or better to get a pass grade.

Other information

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