Religions of the Classical World
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
This course aims to give both an historical and non-confessional perspective on religious studies (XIX-XXI c.) and an overview of religions of the classical world through specific case-studies in Greek and Roman religion. This course shares the same methodological approach as the course of Anthropology of the classical World and of Classical Mythology, based on historical anthropology, that is focused on the understanding of emic (i.e. native) conceptual categories used by Ancients.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge: Students will get knowledge and understanding of the main problems of classical religions (Greece and Rome) in their cultural context and of modern methodological approaches to this field of study, through the reading both of ancient sources (in Italian translation) and of modern scholarship.
Skills: Students will learn to analyze, compare and evaluate ancient sources of different type (literary, epigraphical or iconographical) to draw informed conclusions on religions of classical world, building both on case-studies presented during the course and on the knowledge of modern scholarship. Students will also develop the ability to evaluate critically texts from modern scholarship, in order to understand their methodological approach, their hidden bias, and their purposes.
Skills: Students will learn to analyze, compare and evaluate ancient sources of different type (literary, epigraphical or iconographical) to draw informed conclusions on religions of classical world, building both on case-studies presented during the course and on the knowledge of modern scholarship. Students will also develop the ability to evaluate critically texts from modern scholarship, in order to understand their methodological approach, their hidden bias, and their purposes.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course, addressed both to students with a basic knowledge of classical languages (Greek and Latin), and to those who do not meet these requirements, consists of three teaching units. The first will be a general overview dedicated to the presentation of the most significant topics of reflection related to the religions of the classical world, through the analysis of examples and reference to the different methodological possibilities offered to those who approach these topics (Teaching Unit A: introductory path).
Subsequently, some specific hermeneutical lines will be defined: myths, beliefs and ceremonies on water and through water both in Greece and in Rome (Teaching Unit B: the religion of water).
The last unit will be focused on water deities within the Classical World, through the reading of texts (in translation) and the presentation of iconographic material (Teaching Unit C: Water divinities: the nymphs).
Subsequently, some specific hermeneutical lines will be defined: myths, beliefs and ceremonies on water and through water both in Greece and in Rome (Teaching Unit B: the religion of water).
The last unit will be focused on water deities within the Classical World, through the reading of texts (in translation) and the presentation of iconographic material (Teaching Unit C: Water divinities: the nymphs).
Prerequisites for admission
No prerequisites for admission.
Teaching methods
The course is offered in a lecture format. It has no formal entry requirements. However, attendance is strongly recommended, given that most students have no previous knowledge of this subject from school.
This year's course (Unit A) includes a series of lectures given in Italian by Visiting Professor Gabriella Pironti, Director of Studies at the École Pratique des Hautes Études in the Section des Sciences religieuses (Paris), according to the following schedule of topics:
The representation of the divine in Greek polytheism
1. Polytheism in general
2. The names of the gods
3. The gods and gender
4. Aphrodite between Hesiod and Homer
5. Maritime Aphrodite
6. Hera between sovereignty and marriage
The specific bibliography will be included in the general dossier prepared for teaching unit A.
This year's course (Unit A) includes a series of lectures given in Italian by Visiting Professor Gabriella Pironti, Director of Studies at the École Pratique des Hautes Études in the Section des Sciences religieuses (Paris), according to the following schedule of topics:
The representation of the divine in Greek polytheism
1. Polytheism in general
2. The names of the gods
3. The gods and gender
4. Aphrodite between Hesiod and Homer
5. Maritime Aphrodite
6. Hera between sovereignty and marriage
The specific bibliography will be included in the general dossier prepared for teaching unit A.
Teaching Resources
Bachelor, attending students
Unit A
Students will be required to read a dossier of texts specifically prepared in order to provide the general framework of the discipline (available on the Ariel platform at the beginning of the course).
Reference to the following works is strongly recommended, especially to those who have no familiarity with ancient myths:
1. Giulio Guidorizzi, I miti greci: gli dei, Milano, Mondadori, 2019.
2. Pierre Grimal, Enciclopedia della mitologia, Milano, Garzanti 1999.
Unit B:
All students are required to read: Anita Seppilli, Sacralità delle acque e sortilegio dei ponti, Palermo, Sellerio , 1979.
Unit C
Paola Schirripa, Il volto delle Ninfe: tra metamorfosi, provvisorietà e passaggio di stato, in Ninfe nel mito e nella città dalla Grecia a Roma, Viennepierre, Milano 2009, pp. 9-30.
Bachelor, non-attending students
Unit A
Students will be required to read a dossier of texts specifically prepared in order to provide the general framework of the discipline (available on the Ariel platform at the beginning of the course). They are also to read John Scheid, Rito e religione dei Romani, Bergamo, Sestante, 2009 (part 1 and 3).
Unit B
Students will be required to read:
· Anita Seppilli, Sacralità delle acque e sortilegio dei ponti, Palermo, Sellerio, 1979.
· Clara Gallini, Katapontismos, «Studi e Materiali di Storia delle Religioni» 1963, pp. 61-90, available in digital format at the address: http://cisadu2.let.uniroma1.it/smsr/issues/1963/pages/#page/62/mode/2up
· F. Callisti, Sacralità dell'acqua e "sacrifici di riscatto", in H. Di Giuseppe, M. Serlorenzi, I riti del costruire nelle acque violate, pp. 31-42 (available on the Ariel platform at the beginning of the course).
Unit C
· Paola Schirripa, Il volto delle Ninfe: tra metamorfosi, provvisorietà e passaggio di stato, in Ninfe nel mito e nella città dalla Grecia a Roma, Milano, Viennepierre, 2009, pp. 9-30
· Sonia Macrì, Aretusa e altre ninfe d'acqua. Rifrazioni mitiche della giusta maniera d'amare, «Quaderni del Ramo d'oro», NS, 2012, pp. 63-81, available at the following link http://www.qro.unisi.it/frontend/node/133.
Master, attending students
Unit A
Students will be required to read a dossier of texts specifically prepared in order to provide the general framework of the discipline (available on the Ariel platform at the beginning of the class).
Unit B
Students will be required to read:
· Anita Seppilli, Sacralità delle acque e sortilegio dei ponti, Palermo, Sellerio, 1979.
· Clara Gallini, Katapontismos, «Studi e Materiali di Storia delle Religioni», 1963, pp. 61-90, available in digital format at the address: http://cisadu2.let.uniroma1.it/smsr/issues/1963/pages/#page/62/mode/2up
Unit C
· Paola Schirripa, Il volto delle Ninfe: tra metamorfosi, provvisorietà e passaggio di stato, in Ninfe nel mito e nella città dalla Grecia a Roma, Viennepierre, Milano 2009, pp. 9-30
· Sonia Macrì, "Aretusa e altre ninfe d'acqua. Rifrazioni mitiche della giusta maniera d'amare", Quaderni del Ramo d'oro, NS, 2012, pp. 63-81, available at the following link http://www.qro.unisi.it/frontend/node/133.
Master, non-attending students
Unit A
Students will be required to read a dossier of texts specifically prepared in order to provide the general framework of the discipline (available on the Ariel platform at the beginning of the class). Students are also required to read: Gianluca De Sanctis, La religione a Roma, Roma, Carocci 2012.
Unit B
Students will be required to read:
· Anita Seppilli, Sacralità delle acque e sortilegio dei ponti, Palermo, Sellerio, 1979.
· Clara Gallini, Katapontismos, «Studi e Materiali di Storia delle Religioni» 1963, pp. 61-90, available in digital format at: http://cisadu2.let.uniroma1.it/smsr/issues/1963/pages/#page/62/mode/2up)
· Silvia Romani, "L'ala sul mare", in Maurizio Bettini-Silvia Romani, Il mito di Arianna, Torino, Einaudi, pp. 91-127 (available on the Ariel platform at the beginning of the course)
· F. Callisti, Sacralità dell'acqua e "sacrifici di riscatto", in H. Di Giuseppe, M. Serlorenzi, I riti del costruire nelle acque violate, pp. 31-42 (available on the Ariel format at the beginning of the course)
Unit C
· Paola Schirripa, Il volto delle Ninfe: tra metamorfosi, provvisorietà e passaggio di stato, in Ninfe nel mito e nella città dalla Grecia a Roma, Milano, Viennepierre, 2009, pp. 9-30
· Paola Schirripa, La Ninfa Cattiva in Ninfe nel mito e nella città dalla Grecia a Roma, Milano, Viennepierre, 2009, pp. 71-98.
· Sonia Macrì, "Aretusa e altre ninfe d'acqua. Rifrazioni mitiche della giusta maniera d'amare", Quaderni del Ramo d'oro, NS, 2012, pp. 63-81, available at the following link http://www.qro.unisi.it/frontend/node/133.
Unit A
Students will be required to read a dossier of texts specifically prepared in order to provide the general framework of the discipline (available on the Ariel platform at the beginning of the course).
Reference to the following works is strongly recommended, especially to those who have no familiarity with ancient myths:
1. Giulio Guidorizzi, I miti greci: gli dei, Milano, Mondadori, 2019.
2. Pierre Grimal, Enciclopedia della mitologia, Milano, Garzanti 1999.
Unit B:
All students are required to read: Anita Seppilli, Sacralità delle acque e sortilegio dei ponti, Palermo, Sellerio , 1979.
Unit C
Paola Schirripa, Il volto delle Ninfe: tra metamorfosi, provvisorietà e passaggio di stato, in Ninfe nel mito e nella città dalla Grecia a Roma, Viennepierre, Milano 2009, pp. 9-30.
Bachelor, non-attending students
Unit A
Students will be required to read a dossier of texts specifically prepared in order to provide the general framework of the discipline (available on the Ariel platform at the beginning of the course). They are also to read John Scheid, Rito e religione dei Romani, Bergamo, Sestante, 2009 (part 1 and 3).
Unit B
Students will be required to read:
· Anita Seppilli, Sacralità delle acque e sortilegio dei ponti, Palermo, Sellerio, 1979.
· Clara Gallini, Katapontismos, «Studi e Materiali di Storia delle Religioni» 1963, pp. 61-90, available in digital format at the address: http://cisadu2.let.uniroma1.it/smsr/issues/1963/pages/#page/62/mode/2up
· F. Callisti, Sacralità dell'acqua e "sacrifici di riscatto", in H. Di Giuseppe, M. Serlorenzi, I riti del costruire nelle acque violate, pp. 31-42 (available on the Ariel platform at the beginning of the course).
Unit C
· Paola Schirripa, Il volto delle Ninfe: tra metamorfosi, provvisorietà e passaggio di stato, in Ninfe nel mito e nella città dalla Grecia a Roma, Milano, Viennepierre, 2009, pp. 9-30
· Sonia Macrì, Aretusa e altre ninfe d'acqua. Rifrazioni mitiche della giusta maniera d'amare, «Quaderni del Ramo d'oro», NS, 2012, pp. 63-81, available at the following link http://www.qro.unisi.it/frontend/node/133.
Master, attending students
Unit A
Students will be required to read a dossier of texts specifically prepared in order to provide the general framework of the discipline (available on the Ariel platform at the beginning of the class).
Unit B
Students will be required to read:
· Anita Seppilli, Sacralità delle acque e sortilegio dei ponti, Palermo, Sellerio, 1979.
· Clara Gallini, Katapontismos, «Studi e Materiali di Storia delle Religioni», 1963, pp. 61-90, available in digital format at the address: http://cisadu2.let.uniroma1.it/smsr/issues/1963/pages/#page/62/mode/2up
Unit C
· Paola Schirripa, Il volto delle Ninfe: tra metamorfosi, provvisorietà e passaggio di stato, in Ninfe nel mito e nella città dalla Grecia a Roma, Viennepierre, Milano 2009, pp. 9-30
· Sonia Macrì, "Aretusa e altre ninfe d'acqua. Rifrazioni mitiche della giusta maniera d'amare", Quaderni del Ramo d'oro, NS, 2012, pp. 63-81, available at the following link http://www.qro.unisi.it/frontend/node/133.
Master, non-attending students
Unit A
Students will be required to read a dossier of texts specifically prepared in order to provide the general framework of the discipline (available on the Ariel platform at the beginning of the class). Students are also required to read: Gianluca De Sanctis, La religione a Roma, Roma, Carocci 2012.
Unit B
Students will be required to read:
· Anita Seppilli, Sacralità delle acque e sortilegio dei ponti, Palermo, Sellerio, 1979.
· Clara Gallini, Katapontismos, «Studi e Materiali di Storia delle Religioni» 1963, pp. 61-90, available in digital format at: http://cisadu2.let.uniroma1.it/smsr/issues/1963/pages/#page/62/mode/2up)
· Silvia Romani, "L'ala sul mare", in Maurizio Bettini-Silvia Romani, Il mito di Arianna, Torino, Einaudi, pp. 91-127 (available on the Ariel platform at the beginning of the course)
· F. Callisti, Sacralità dell'acqua e "sacrifici di riscatto", in H. Di Giuseppe, M. Serlorenzi, I riti del costruire nelle acque violate, pp. 31-42 (available on the Ariel format at the beginning of the course)
Unit C
· Paola Schirripa, Il volto delle Ninfe: tra metamorfosi, provvisorietà e passaggio di stato, in Ninfe nel mito e nella città dalla Grecia a Roma, Milano, Viennepierre, 2009, pp. 9-30
· Paola Schirripa, La Ninfa Cattiva in Ninfe nel mito e nella città dalla Grecia a Roma, Milano, Viennepierre, 2009, pp. 71-98.
· Sonia Macrì, "Aretusa e altre ninfe d'acqua. Rifrazioni mitiche della giusta maniera d'amare", Quaderni del Ramo d'oro, NS, 2012, pp. 63-81, available at the following link http://www.qro.unisi.it/frontend/node/133.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination is exclusively oral, and the grading system is based on a 30 points scale (18 is the minimum passing grade). The oral assessment will test the knowledge both of the general topics presented in the first teaching unit and of the specific topics related to the other two units. The exam also aims at testing the ability both to discuss critically the topics studied and to use the appropriate discipline-specific vocabulary. Performance descriptors are: knowledge accuracy, ability to present critically a topic, speech organization, fluency and appropriate vocabulary.
National and international students or Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the teacher in charge of the course in a timely manner.
The examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or with learning disabilities must be agreed with the teacher, in agreement with the competent office.
National and international students or Erasmus incoming students are invited to contact the teacher in charge of the course in a timely manner.
The examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or with learning disabilities must be agreed with the teacher, in agreement with the competent office.
Unita' didattica A
M-STO/06 - HISTORY OF RELIGIONS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Romani Silvia
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Romani Silvia
Unita' didattica B
M-STO/06 - HISTORY OF RELIGIONS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Romani Silvia
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Romani Silvia
Unita' didattica C
M-STO/06 - HISTORY OF RELIGIONS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Fabiano Doralice
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Fabiano DoraliceProfessor(s)
Reception:
Thursday 10.30 (in person)
in person, cortile della legnaia, first floor (geography's section, first door on the left); on line via teams (scheduled only)