GREEK CULTURE AND CLASSICAL TRADITION
Academic Year 2025/2026 - Teacher:
VINCENZO DAMIANI
Expected Learning Outcomes
1) Knowledge and understanding
Acquire the basic linguistic, historical and
communicative tools needed to read and contextualize texts connected with Greek
culture; recognize genres, literary features and rhetorical devices; understand
the dynamics of textual transmission and reception.
2) Applying knowledge and understanding
Analyze selected passages—whether in the original
language or in translation—highlighting the relationship between form and
content; employ printed and digital resources to support interpretation; relate
the texts to interdisciplinary themes.
3) Making judgements
Develop personal criteria for evaluating divergent
interpretations; select relevant philological, historical and iconographic
evidence; argue critical choices coherently.
4) Communication skills
Present the results of oral and written analyses
clearly; employ essential technical metalanguage; integrate digital supports
(e.g. slides) and precise citations.
5) Learning skills
Develop
an autonomous study method based on critical reading, self-assessment and peer
review; transfer the competences acquired to texts and contexts of increasing
difficulty.Course Structure
Lectures complemented by guided reading exercises, with active student
participation.
Required Prerequisites
No prerequisites required.
Attendance of Lessons
Attendance is not compulsory.
Detailed Course Content
Module
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)
1 Samuel
28 (Saul summons
the departed Samuel ~ Nekyia)
3) Judges 14–16 (Samson, a hero of super-human
strength ~ the labours of Heracles)
Module
B: Human and Divine Law in Dialogue with Sophocles’ Antigone: New-Testament Excerpts
1)
Matthew 5:17–48 (the old and the new Law)
2)
Matthew 23:13–37 (justice and mercy vs.
hypocritical legalism)
3)
John 8:7–11 (Pericope of the Adulteress)
4) Acts 5:17–33 (obedience to humans versus
obedience to God)
5) Romans 2:12–24 (the law of the heart and
conscience)
Module
C: Critical readings (materials and bibliographical guidance will be
supplied during the lectures; the relative numbers of pages will not exceed
those prescribed by the number of CFU of the course).
Textbook Information
Module
A: Mythic Pathways between the Old Testament (Septuagint) and Greek
Culture
1)
La Bibbia dei Settanta. I. Pentateuco. Tomo 1. A cura di P. Lucca.
Brescia 2012: pp. 120–125;
130–139; 178–181.
2)
La Bibbia dei Settanta. II/1. Libri storici. Tomo 1. A cura di P.G.
Borbone. Brescia 2016: pp. 381–385.
3)
La Bibbia dei Settanta. II/1. Libri storici. Tomo 1. A cura di P.G.
Borbone. Brescia 2016: pp. 193–205.
Module
B: Human and Divine Law in Dialogue with Sophocles’ Antigone: New-Testament Excerpts
1)
La Sacra Bibbia. Nuovo Testamento. A cura di P. Rossano. Torino 1973: pp. 9–10.
2)
La Sacra Bibbia. Nuovo Testamento. A cura di P. Rossano. Torino 1973: p. 34.
3)
La Sacra Bibbia. Nuovo Testamento. A cura di P. Rossano. Torino 1973: pp.
122–123.
4)
La Sacra Bibbia. Nuovo Testamento. A cura di P. Rossano. Torino 1973: p. 154.
5)
La Sacra Bibbia. Nuovo Testamento. A cura di P. Rossano. Torino 1973: p. 245.
Module
C: Critical readings (materials and bibliographical guidance will be
supplied during the lectures: the relative numbers of pages will not exceed
those prescribed by the number of CFU of the course).
The texts will be available on Studium.unict.
