Egyptology
A.Y. 2021/2022
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with a general understanding of ancient Egypt, from the end of the fourth millennium BC to the Roman conquest of the country. The educational objective of the course is to develop general knowledge related to all aspects of ancient Egyptian civilization, its transformations over the millennia and its influence on modern and contemporary culture. It is an introduction to the Egyptological discipline in its various aspects, aimed at providing general elements and specific insights into the history, archaeology, culture, religion, language and literature of ancient Egypt (with notions of grammar and reading of texts in Egyptian hieroglyph). Issues related to the history of the discipline will also be discussed, making use of the documents preserved in the Egyptological Archives of the University of Milan. Each year we will also deal with a specific topic, in relation to the research activities of the teacher and the advances in Egyptological research in general.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge
At the end of the course the student must have acquired a basic knowledge of ancient Egyptian civilization in its development and its transformations, through the analysis of archaeological, iconographic and textual sources.
Skills
At the end of the course the student must have developed a basic competence in the use of the essential bibliographical tools and of the technical egyptological lexicon; critical skills in the interpretation of documents; ability to distinguish between preconceived ideas and results deriving from scientific research; awareness of the content and usefulness for the research of the Egyptological archives and the history of the discipline.
At the end of the course the student must have acquired a basic knowledge of ancient Egyptian civilization in its development and its transformations, through the analysis of archaeological, iconographic and textual sources.
Skills
At the end of the course the student must have developed a basic competence in the use of the essential bibliographical tools and of the technical egyptological lexicon; critical skills in the interpretation of documents; ability to distinguish between preconceived ideas and results deriving from scientific research; awareness of the content and usefulness for the research of the Egyptological archives and the history of the discipline.
Lesson period: First 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
First 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 teaching program covers general topics and specific in-depth studies on the history, archaeology, culture, religion, language and literature of Pharaonic Egypt. In the teaching unit A, elements of history, archaeology, culture and religion will be provided. Issues related to the history of Egyptological discipline will also be discussed, with particular reference to the Egyptological Archives of the University of Milan and illustrating documents preserved in them. In the teaching unit B the archaeological, historical, cultural, and administrative aspects related to the Old Kingdom (IIIrd mill. BC) will be presented. The teaching unit C will be dedicated to the ancient Egyptian language, writings and literature and will give the basics of grammar and reading of texts in Egyptian hieroglyphic.
Prerequisites for admission
No prerequisites for admission.
Teaching methods
The teaching units A and B consist of lectures accompanied by images and videos, so that the student can associate archaeological and textual data with historical and cultural ones. Copyright-free images are provided to students at the end of each module via the ARIEL platform. Some copyright-free essays are also uploaded onto the ARIEL platform. Through the images and explanations provided during the classes, the student can arrive, associating the personal study of the volumes indicated in the bibliography, at a basic knowledge of the history, archaeology, culture and religion of Pharaonic Egypt.
Module C, dedicated to hieroglyphic writing, language and literature of Pharaonic Egypt, consists of lectures and practical exercises devoted to the reading and comprehension of signs and texts. Course support materials (hieroglyphic signs lists, texts, etc.) are uploaded onto the ARIEL platform. Thanks to the interaction with the teacher, and to personal study, at the end of the course the student will be able to read and translate simple texts in the Middle Egyptian.
Course attendance is strongly recommended, especially for module C.
Module C, dedicated to hieroglyphic writing, language and literature of Pharaonic Egypt, consists of lectures and practical exercises devoted to the reading and comprehension of signs and texts. Course support materials (hieroglyphic signs lists, texts, etc.) are uploaded onto the ARIEL platform. Thanks to the interaction with the teacher, and to personal study, at the end of the course the student will be able to read and translate simple texts in the Middle Egyptian.
Course attendance is strongly recommended, especially for module C.
Teaching Resources
Teaching Unit A
- Personal notes from the classes.
- P. PIACENTINI, M. POZZI, Egittologia: un'introduzione, Milano, Le Monnier Università, in press.
- N. GRIMAL, Storia dell'antico Egitto, Bari, Laterza, 1990 (or any other edition).
- P. PIACENTINI, Egitto dal cielo 1914. La riscoperta del fotografo Theodor Kofler pioniere, prigioniero, professionista / Egypt from the sky. The rediscovery of the photographer Theodor Kofler pioneer, prisoner, professional, Firenze, Phasar, 2015, pp. 7, 19-27, 77-80, 94-135 (the student has to be able to recognise the monuments on the photographs).
Teaching Unit B
- Personal notes from the classes.
- Specific essays mentioned during the classes.
Teaching Unit C
- Personal notes from the classes
- R. DE SPENS, Manuale di scrittura geroglifica, Milano, Le Monnier Università, 2021.
- E.M. CIAMPINI, La lingua dell'antico Egitto, Milano, Hoepli, 2018 (it is not mandatory to study this volume)
Bibliography for students who cannot attend the classes
Teaching Unit A
- P. PIACENTINI, M. POZZI, Egittologia: un'introduzione, Milano, Le Monnier Università, in press.
- N. GRIMAL, Storia dell'antico Egitto, Bari, Laterza, 1990 (or any other edition).
- P. PIACENTINI, Egitto dal cielo 1914. La riscoperta del fotografo Theodor Kofler pioniere, prigioniero, professionista / Egypt from the sky. The rediscovery of the photographer Theodor Kofler pioneer, prisoner, professional, Firenze, Phasar, 2015, pp. 7, 19-27, 77-80, 94-135 (the student has to be able to recognise the monuments on the photographs). The book is bilingual.
- THREE essays chosen by the student among those published in the journal EDAL: Egyptian and Egyptological Documents Archives Libraries VI (2017), Milano, Pontremoli Editore.
(EDAL can be purchased at a discounted price, by students who can provide their UNIMI inscription number, through the website of Pontremoli publisher: http://www.libreriapontremoli.it or going directly to the bookstore of the Pontremoli publisher in Milano).
Teaching Unit B
- P. PIACENTINI (ed.), Egypt and the Pharaohs. From the Sand to the Library. Pharaonic Egypt in the Archives and Library of the Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Università degli Studi di Milano-SKIRA, 2010 (Chapters II, III, IV).
Teaching Unit C
R. DE SPENS, Manuale di scrittura geroglifica, Milano, Le Monnier Università, 2021.
- E.M. CIAMPINI, La lingua dell'antico Egitto, Milano, Hoepli, 2018 (it is not mandatory to study this volume)
- Personal notes from the classes.
- P. PIACENTINI, M. POZZI, Egittologia: un'introduzione, Milano, Le Monnier Università, in press.
- N. GRIMAL, Storia dell'antico Egitto, Bari, Laterza, 1990 (or any other edition).
- P. PIACENTINI, Egitto dal cielo 1914. La riscoperta del fotografo Theodor Kofler pioniere, prigioniero, professionista / Egypt from the sky. The rediscovery of the photographer Theodor Kofler pioneer, prisoner, professional, Firenze, Phasar, 2015, pp. 7, 19-27, 77-80, 94-135 (the student has to be able to recognise the monuments on the photographs).
Teaching Unit B
- Personal notes from the classes.
- Specific essays mentioned during the classes.
Teaching Unit C
- Personal notes from the classes
- R. DE SPENS, Manuale di scrittura geroglifica, Milano, Le Monnier Università, 2021.
- E.M. CIAMPINI, La lingua dell'antico Egitto, Milano, Hoepli, 2018 (it is not mandatory to study this volume)
Bibliography for students who cannot attend the classes
Teaching Unit A
- P. PIACENTINI, M. POZZI, Egittologia: un'introduzione, Milano, Le Monnier Università, in press.
- N. GRIMAL, Storia dell'antico Egitto, Bari, Laterza, 1990 (or any other edition).
- P. PIACENTINI, Egitto dal cielo 1914. La riscoperta del fotografo Theodor Kofler pioniere, prigioniero, professionista / Egypt from the sky. The rediscovery of the photographer Theodor Kofler pioneer, prisoner, professional, Firenze, Phasar, 2015, pp. 7, 19-27, 77-80, 94-135 (the student has to be able to recognise the monuments on the photographs). The book is bilingual.
- THREE essays chosen by the student among those published in the journal EDAL: Egyptian and Egyptological Documents Archives Libraries VI (2017), Milano, Pontremoli Editore.
(EDAL can be purchased at a discounted price, by students who can provide their UNIMI inscription number, through the website of Pontremoli publisher: http://www.libreriapontremoli.it or going directly to the bookstore of the Pontremoli publisher in Milano).
Teaching Unit B
- P. PIACENTINI (ed.), Egypt and the Pharaohs. From the Sand to the Library. Pharaonic Egypt in the Archives and Library of the Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Università degli Studi di Milano-SKIRA, 2010 (Chapters II, III, IV).
Teaching Unit C
R. DE SPENS, Manuale di scrittura geroglifica, Milano, Le Monnier Università, 2021.
- E.M. CIAMPINI, La lingua dell'antico Egitto, Milano, Hoepli, 2018 (it is not mandatory to study this volume)
Assessment methods and Criteria
The student's expected learning outcomes are ascertained through an oral exam. The exam consists of an interview on the topics of the program, aimed at ascertaining basic knowledge on the history, archaeology and ancient Egyptian culture, as well as on the history of the discipline. During the interview, images of monuments and archaeological sites (shown in the classroom during the course or included in the volumes in bibliography for non-attending students) will be presented to the student. He will need to recognize and contextualize them. Students who follow the C teaching unit must be able to read and translate the Egyptian hieroglyphic texts explained during the course and have acquired the rudiments of ancient Egyptian grammar.
Evaluation parameters will be: ability to present the acquired knowledge in a clear and exhaustive way; capacity for critical reasoning on the study carried out; quality of exposure; competence in the use of specialized vocabulary.
The vote is expressed in thirtieths (minimum 18, maximum 30/30 cum laude).
The student can follow the modules (or teaching units) A and B or A and C to obtain 6 credits (the introductory module A is mandatory). Instead, the student must follow modules A, B and C to earn 9 credits.
It is not possible to obtain only 3 credits (following a single module).
Evaluation parameters will be: ability to present the acquired knowledge in a clear and exhaustive way; capacity for critical reasoning on the study carried out; quality of exposure; competence in the use of specialized vocabulary.
The vote is expressed in thirtieths (minimum 18, maximum 30/30 cum laude).
The student can follow the modules (or teaching units) A and B or A and C to obtain 6 credits (the introductory module A is mandatory). Instead, the student must follow modules A, B and C to earn 9 credits.
It is not possible to obtain only 3 credits (following a single module).
Unita' didattica A
L-OR/02 - EGYPTOLOGY AND COPTIC CIVILIZATION - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-OR/02 - EGYPTOLOGY AND COPTIC CIVILIZATION - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-OR/02 - EGYPTOLOGY AND COPTIC CIVILIZATION - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
Wednesday 11am-13am, Thursday 11am-12am, on appointment by e-mail
Office (Library of Egyptology)