Anthropology of the Ancient World
A.Y. 2021/2022
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with an integrated preparation on the contents of the discipline and a series of hermeneutical tools drawn in particular from historical anthropology and cultural anthropology. The course also aims to integrate its objectives with those identified by the Lettere degree course, with particular emphasis on the antiquity curriculum.
Expected learning outcomes
: In the first part of the course, students are expected to know a number of different approaches available to the cultural anthropologist of ancient societies. They will demonstrate knowledge of the historiographical debate concerning the different possibilities of analysis and of the most important case studies. In the second part of the course, they are expected to have precise knowledge of a specific anthropological topic, concerning the most significant community and individual experiences within traditional cultures and in Antiquity.
Skills: Students will be able both to have a deep understanding of different anthropological phenomena concerning ancient cultures and to demonstrate analytical skills, especially concerning the recognition of emic categories in ancient sources, building on knowledge objectives acquired during the course. They will also be able to decode the similarities and differences between the different ways and occasions of presenting the problem.
Skills: Students will be able both to have a deep understanding of different anthropological phenomena concerning ancient cultures and to demonstrate analytical skills, especially concerning the recognition of emic categories in ancient sources, building on knowledge objectives acquired during the course. They will also be able to decode the similarities and differences between the different ways and occasions of presenting the problem.
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
Lesson period
Second semester
More specific information on the delivery modes of training activities for academic year 2021/22 will be provided over the coming months, based on the evolution of the public health situation
Course syllabus
The course, addressed both to students with a basic knowledge of classical languages, and to those who do not meet these requirements, consists of two units.
Unit A (prof. Fabiano) will provide an introduction to historical anthropology of the Classical world, its methodology and history and to some of the main themes of research in this field, through the reading of some of the "fathers" of this approach to Classical Antiquity (Frazer, Mauss, Meyerson, Vernant etc.).
Unit B (prof. Romani) will deal with ancient cosmogonies, and more particularly: Theogonies, anthropogonies (origin of mankind, creation of women, sex, body and sexual reproduction), autochthony myths, and therefore, roots cultural metaphor; relationship with animals; Hyperboreans. Parallels with other cosmogonical systems will be drawn in order to show similarities and differences.
Unit A (prof. Fabiano) will provide an introduction to historical anthropology of the Classical world, its methodology and history and to some of the main themes of research in this field, through the reading of some of the "fathers" of this approach to Classical Antiquity (Frazer, Mauss, Meyerson, Vernant etc.).
Unit B (prof. Romani) will deal with ancient cosmogonies, and more particularly: Theogonies, anthropogonies (origin of mankind, creation of women, sex, body and sexual reproduction), autochthony myths, and therefore, roots cultural metaphor; relationship with animals; Hyperboreans. Parallels with other cosmogonical systems will be drawn in order to show similarities and differences.
Prerequisites for admission
The course has no entry requirements
Teaching methods
The course is lecture-based.
Teaching Resources
Reading List
Attending BA students
Unit A:
- Maurizio Bettini, William M. Short, Con i Romani, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2014, chapters I to III and V to VII ( English translation available The World through Roman Eyes, Cambridge UP, 2018)
- J. P. Vernant, Mito e pensiero, Einaudi, part 2 (Aspetti mitici della memoria e del tempo) and 3 (L'organizzazione dello spazio).
Unit B:
- different papers available on Ariel (dossier unità B)
- J.P. Vernant "Cosmogonici" (miti). Grecia", Y. Bonnefoy (ed.), Dizionario delle mitologie e delle religioni (available on Ariel)
Non attending BA students
Unit A
- Maurizio Bettini, William M. Short, Con i Romani, Il Mulino, Bologna 2014, chapters I to XI ( English translation available The World through Roman Eyes, Cambridge UP, 2018)
- J. P. Vernant, Mito e pensiero, Einaudi, part 2 (Aspetti mitici della memoria e del tempo) and 3 (L'organizzazione dello spazio) .
- Claude Lévi-Strauss, Mito e significato. Cinque conversazioni, Milano, Il Saggiatore, 2016.
Unit B
- Esiodo Teogonia (in translation)
- Ovidio, Metamorfosi, libro I (in translation)
- Jean Rudhart, Eros e Afrodite, Bollati Boringhieri
- J.P. Vernant "Cosmogonici" (miti). Grecia", Y. Bonnefoy (ed.), Dizionario delle mitologie e delle religioni (messo a disposizione su Ariel dal docente a inizio corso)
Attending MA students
Part A
- Maurizio Bettini, William M. Short, Con i Romani, Il Mulino, Bologna 2014, chapters I to XI ( English translation available The World through Roman Eyes, Cambridge UP, 2018)
- J. P. Vernant, Mito e pensiero, Einaudi (diverse edizioni), part 2 (Aspetti mitici della memoria e del tempo), 3 (L'organizzazione dello spazio) and 5 (La categoria psicologica del doppio)
- Claude Lévi-Strauss, Mito e significato. Cinque conversazioni, Milano, Il Saggiatore, 2016.
Parte B
- J.P. Vernant "Cosmogonici" (miti). Grecia", Y. Bonnefoy (ed.), Dizionario delle mitologie e delle religioni (messo a disposizione su Ariel dal docente a inizio corso)
- Maurizio Bettini, Contro le radici: Tradizione, identità, memoria, il Mulino
Non attending MA students
Parte A
- Maurizio Bettini, William M. Short, Con i Romani, Il Mulino, Bologna 2014 (whole book) English translation available The World through Roman Eyes, Cambridge UP, 2018
- J. P. Vernant, Mito e pensiero, Einaudi, part 2 (aspetti mitici della memoria e del tempo), 3 (L'organizzazione dello spazio) and 5 (La categoria psicologica del doppio)
- Claude Lévi-Strauss, Mito e significato. Cinque conversazioni, Milano, Il Saggiatore, 2016
Part B
- Esiodo Teogonia (in translation)
- Ovidio, Metamorfosilibro I (in translation)
- Jean Rudhart, Eros e Afrodite, Bollati Boringhieri
- E. Viveiros de Castro, Prospettivismo cosmogonico in Amazzonia e altrove, Quodlibet
Attending BA students
Unit A:
- Maurizio Bettini, William M. Short, Con i Romani, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2014, chapters I to III and V to VII ( English translation available The World through Roman Eyes, Cambridge UP, 2018)
- J. P. Vernant, Mito e pensiero, Einaudi, part 2 (Aspetti mitici della memoria e del tempo) and 3 (L'organizzazione dello spazio).
Unit B:
- different papers available on Ariel (dossier unità B)
- J.P. Vernant "Cosmogonici" (miti). Grecia", Y. Bonnefoy (ed.), Dizionario delle mitologie e delle religioni (available on Ariel)
Non attending BA students
Unit A
- Maurizio Bettini, William M. Short, Con i Romani, Il Mulino, Bologna 2014, chapters I to XI ( English translation available The World through Roman Eyes, Cambridge UP, 2018)
- J. P. Vernant, Mito e pensiero, Einaudi, part 2 (Aspetti mitici della memoria e del tempo) and 3 (L'organizzazione dello spazio) .
- Claude Lévi-Strauss, Mito e significato. Cinque conversazioni, Milano, Il Saggiatore, 2016.
Unit B
- Esiodo Teogonia (in translation)
- Ovidio, Metamorfosi, libro I (in translation)
- Jean Rudhart, Eros e Afrodite, Bollati Boringhieri
- J.P. Vernant "Cosmogonici" (miti). Grecia", Y. Bonnefoy (ed.), Dizionario delle mitologie e delle religioni (messo a disposizione su Ariel dal docente a inizio corso)
Attending MA students
Part A
- Maurizio Bettini, William M. Short, Con i Romani, Il Mulino, Bologna 2014, chapters I to XI ( English translation available The World through Roman Eyes, Cambridge UP, 2018)
- J. P. Vernant, Mito e pensiero, Einaudi (diverse edizioni), part 2 (Aspetti mitici della memoria e del tempo), 3 (L'organizzazione dello spazio) and 5 (La categoria psicologica del doppio)
- Claude Lévi-Strauss, Mito e significato. Cinque conversazioni, Milano, Il Saggiatore, 2016.
Parte B
- J.P. Vernant "Cosmogonici" (miti). Grecia", Y. Bonnefoy (ed.), Dizionario delle mitologie e delle religioni (messo a disposizione su Ariel dal docente a inizio corso)
- Maurizio Bettini, Contro le radici: Tradizione, identità, memoria, il Mulino
Non attending MA students
Parte A
- Maurizio Bettini, William M. Short, Con i Romani, Il Mulino, Bologna 2014 (whole book) English translation available The World through Roman Eyes, Cambridge UP, 2018
- J. P. Vernant, Mito e pensiero, Einaudi, part 2 (aspetti mitici della memoria e del tempo), 3 (L'organizzazione dello spazio) and 5 (La categoria psicologica del doppio)
- Claude Lévi-Strauss, Mito e significato. Cinque conversazioni, Milano, Il Saggiatore, 2016
Part B
- Esiodo Teogonia (in translation)
- Ovidio, Metamorfosilibro I (in translation)
- Jean Rudhart, Eros e Afrodite, Bollati Boringhieri
- E. Viveiros de Castro, Prospettivismo cosmogonico in Amazzonia e altrove, Quodlibet
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:
Fabiano Doralice
Unita' didattica B
M-STO/06 - HISTORY OF RELIGIONS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Romani Silvia
Professor(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)