GREEK CULTURE AND CLASSICAL TRADITION

The class offers to students the basic principles for direct access to Greek sources, essential to an in-depth study of Greek Language and Literature and the Classical Tradition. The course will also focus on some relevant aspects of Greek culture through reading of texts in original language, which will be accompanied by reflection on grammar, syntax and lexicon. The aim is to achieve a minimum degree of linguistic and cultural familiarity with classical texts and authors, so to allow direct reference to the sources and the interpretation of texts and images.

 

According to the Dublin descriptors, students, at the end of the course, will acquire:

1) Knowledge and understanding: basic knowledge of the Greek language: alphabet, vocabulary, elementary structures of grammar and syntax; knowledge of the main Greek myths;

2) Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: ability to analyse a text in its content and formal aspects, in relation to the problems linked to the classical tradition; ability to search ancient sources, even with facing translation;

3) Autonomy of judgement: acquisition of a critical perspective towards the analysis of texts, ability to independently assess the reliability of information and interpretations.

4) Communication skills: reflection on the most suitable communication strategies in relation to the communication and didactics of the classical tradition

5) Learning skills: ability to critically utilise the knowledge acquired in the course.

Lectures.

Module 1: Reading and guided analysis of Greek texts (3 ECTS)

a) Mythic Pathways between the Old Testament (Septuagint) and Greek Culture

1)    Genesis 3 (original sin ~ Pandora); 6–8 (giants and demigods ~ the generation of heroes, Titans and Giants; the Flood ~ Deucalion and Pyrrha); 22 (the sacrifice of Isaac ~ Iphigenia)

2)    Ps.-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca I 1-7, 3, Epit. 3, 21

 

b) Human and Divine Law: Sophocles’ Antigone and New-Testament Excerpts

1)    Sophocles, Antigone (full reading in Italian translation; vv. 441–525 in Greek)

2)    Acts 5, 17–33 (obedience to humans versus obedience to God)

3)    Romans 2, 12–24 (the law of the heart and conscience)

 

Module 2: Lectures on methodology and case-studies (3 ECTS; 6 ECTS)

1) Historical and critical reading of the literary and iconographic sources
2) Introduction to inquiry into mythographical sources

3) Classical Tradition and history

Module 1: Reading and guided analysis of Greek texts (3 ECTS)

a) Mythic Pathways between the Old Testament (Septuagint) and Greek Culture

1)    Critical text: Septuaginta id est Vetus Testamentum graece iuxta LXX interpretes. Edidit A. Rahlfs. Stuttgart 1979: pp. 4–5; 8–12; 29–31. Italian translation: La Bibbia dei Settanta. I. Pentateuco. Tomo 1. A cura di P. Lucca. Brescia 2012: pp. 120–125; 130–139; 178–181.

2)    Apollodoro, I miti greci, a cura di P. Scarpi, Milano, Fondazione Lorenzo Valla 1996, pp. 1–33, 338–343.

 

b) Human and Divine Law: Sophocles’ Antigone and New-Testament Excerpts

1)    Sofocle, Antigone, Edipo re, Edipo a Colono, a cura di F. Ferrari, Milano, BUR 1982, or any edition with facing Greek text.

2)    Critical text: E. et E. Nestle/B. et K. Aland (ed.): Novum Testamentum graece. Stuttgart 2012²⁸: pp. 393–395. Italian translation: La Sacra Bibbia. Nuovo Testamento. A cura di P. Rossano. Torino 1973: p. 154.

3)    Critical text: E. et E. Nestle/B. et K. Aland (ed.): Novum Testamentum graece. Stuttgart 2012²⁸: pp. 484–485. Italian translation: La Sacra Bibbia. Nuovo Testamento. A cura di P. Rossano. Torino 1973: p. 245.

 

Texts (except for Antigone) will be available on Studium.unict.

 

Module 2: Lectures on methodology and case-studies (3 ECTS; 6 ECTS)

1)    M. Centanni, L’originale assente. Introduzione allo studio della tradizione classica, Ronzani Editore, Vicenza 2021²:

a.     6 ECTS course (students of Classics): a choice of chapters from the volume (approx. 200 pp.), to be approved by the teachers before examination;

b.     9 ECTS course (students of Cultural Heritage): thorough reading of the whole book (439 pp.).

2)    Students will prepare an oral presentation on a myth of their choice, drawing on the direct reading of the primary sources. The talk is to be delivered with PowerPoint and should include substantial quotations from the selected passages. The following works are to be consulted: R. Graves, I miti greci, Longanesi, Milano 1996¹²; A. Ferrari, Dizionario di Mitologia, Torino 2018. Total reading load: approximately 40–50 pages.

3)    Critical readings (texts and bibliographical references will be given during the course; pp. 40-50 ca.).

 

Please remember that in compliance with art 171 L22.04.1941, n. 633 and its amendments, it is illegal to copy entire books or journals, only 15% of their content can be copied.

For further information on sanctions and regulations concerning photocopying please refer to the regulations on copyright (Linee Guida sulla Gestione dei Diritti d’Autore) provided by AIDRO - Associazione Italiana per i Diritti di Riproduzione delle opere dell’ingegno (the Italian Association on Copyright).

All the books listed in the programs can be consulted in the Library.