Latin Epigraphy

A.Y. 2020/2021
9
Max ECTS
60
Overall hours
SSD
L-ANT/03
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
The course offers an ample introduction to the Latin Epigraphy, to the epigraphical evidence and to methods employed in the epigraphical research.
Furthermore, the analysis of a number of epigraphical documents will provide students with an insight into the political, administrative, social and economic history of ancient Rome.
Expected learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course students are expected to acquire the critical and methodological instruments which are necessary to read and interpret Latin inscriptions, and to employ the most used epigraphical corpuses and inventories. They are also expected to develop abilities to compile an epigraphical file, namely to transcribe, integrate and interpret Latin inscriptions. Such abilities should be employed to reconstruct various aspects of the political, institutional and administrative history of Rome and of other cities of ancient Italy and, more in general, of the Roman Empire
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
First semester
The course will be organized into online synchronous and asynchronous lectures to be held on the platform Teams.
The synchronous lectures will be held on the platform Teams according to the scheduled timetable of the course; they will be also recorded and uploaded on the Ariel website of the course of Latin Epigraphy.
Asynchronous lectures will be directly uploaded on the Ariel website of the course in correspondence of the scheduled timetable of the course.
The first, central and final lectures of each part will be held as synchronous lectures on Teams according to a calendar which will be published on Ariel before the beginning of the course. These occasions will be devoted to introduce or recapitulate the topics treated or the be treated in the related parts; furthermore, students will have the opportunity to ask questions and to discuss themes related to the course with the teacher.
All further information concerning the course, the timetable of asynchronous and synchronous lectures, the instructions as to the access to the Teams classroom of the course and the topics of the course will be provided on Ariel.
As all lectures will be available for streaming or downloading on Ariel, no distinction will be made between attending and non attending students. All students are expected to follow the video-lectures and to study the related notes, the uploaded slides and the books of the program.
Course syllabus
Epigraphy and administration in the Roman age (60 hours / 9 CFU)

Part A (20 hours / 3 CFU): Latin Epigraphy: Instruments and Methods
Part B (20 hours / 3 CFU): Augustus' Res Gestae
Part C (20 hours /3 CFU): Administration of the cities of the Empire through epigraphic documents.

The course is organized into three Parts. Part A aims at introducing students to the interpretation of Latin inscriptions, to the methods and instruments which are necessary to study epigraphical documents (such as corpora, databases, inventories). The analysis of different typologies of inscriptions (such as religious, funerary, honorary, official acts, etc.) will provide students with a comprehensive view on the epigraphical evidence.
Part B will be primarily devoted to the study of a selection of excerpts from Augustus' Res Gestae, the so-called "Queen of Inscriptions", according to Mommsen's famous definition. This document will also allow, among other things, to introduce the major administrative developments which appeared during the Augustan age. In this respect, special attention will be devoted to documents that reflect the administrative reforms implemented, or planned, by Augustus.
Part C will focus on epigraphical documents related to the administration of the cities of the Roman Empire, with a particular attention for the municipal statutes and the local senates' decrees.
Prerequisites for admission
Knowledge of the Latin Language
Teaching methods
The course will be offered in a lecture on line format. Online databases (especially Epigraphic Database Roma and Epigraphische Datenbank Clauss Slaby) will allow students to visualize and examine inscriptions. Some inscriptions will be uploaded on the Ariel website of the course.
Teaching Resources
Teaching Resources

Bibliographical references:

Part A
- A. Buonopane, Manuale di epigrafia latina, Carocci.
- Videolectures notes.

Part B
- Augustus, Res Gestae. I miei atti, a cura di P. Arena, Edipuglia.
- Videolectures notes

Part C
- A book to be chosen among the following suggestions (in accordance with the teacher):

M.L. Caldelli, M. Cèbeillac, F. Zevi, Epigrafia latina. Ostia: cento iscrizioni in contesto, Quasar (studio di 30 iscrizioni a scelta da concordare con la docente)
G. Giorcelli Bersani, Epigrafia e storia di Roma, Carocci
O. Licandro, Il diritto inciso. Lineamenti di epigrafia giuridica romana, Torre: Catania
G. Alföldy, Studi sull'epigrafia augustea e tiberiana di Roma, Quasar
I. Di Stefano Manzella, Mestiere di epigrafista. Guida alla schedatura del materiale epigrafico lapideo, Quasar.

- Videolectures notes
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final test will consist in an oral examination, in which students will be evaluated as to the acquired competence in the epigraphical field, with special reference to the themes treated during the course and in the handbook. Ability to read and comment on inscriptions will be especially evaluated.
Students aiming at the 6 credits exam are exempted from the study of the material for the Unit C.
Unita' didattica A
L-ANT/03 - ROMAN HISTORY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-ANT/03 - ROMAN HISTORY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-ANT/03 - ROMAN HISTORY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)