Ancient Greece Theatre
A.Y. 2022/2023
Learning objectives
The course develops the needed basic critical elements in order to evaluate in complete autonomy: 1. Authors, their staging and their works in the Ancient Greek theaters; 2. Iconographic presence of theatrical and mythical events in Greek-Roman art; 3. Ancient models elaboration in medieval, modern and contemporary art; 4. Ancient models elaboration in later centuries' literature, theater and music; 5.Contemporary directorial interpretations of ancient works; 6. Movies elaboration of Ancient models.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student reaches the needed basic critical elements in order to evaluate in complete autonomy: 1. poetry, philosophy and communication developments in the Greek world of the VII-II BC centuries;
2. Theater and entertainment developments in the Greek world of the VI-II BC centuries; 3. Developments and variations of the main mythical events of the Greek tradition; 4. Reuse of Greek mythical and theatrical models in later periods.
2. Theater and entertainment developments in the Greek world of the VI-II BC centuries; 3. Developments and variations of the main mythical events of the Greek tradition; 4. Reuse of Greek mythical and theatrical models in later periods.
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
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
"Neither winners, nor losers, but only losers: this is war".
After a general introduction on Greek theater, the monographic course will examine four tragedies in which the reasoning on war and its effects constitutes the profound reason for the story and the dramaturgical structure (Aeschylus' Persians and Agamemnon; Euripides' Trojans and Suppliants).
Part A (20 hours, 3 credits): Theater in the Greek world
Part B (20 hours, 3 credits): Aeschylus' Persians and Agamemnon
Part C (20 hours, 3 credits): Euripides' Trojans and Suppliants.
After a general introduction on Greek theater, the monographic course will examine four tragedies in which the reasoning on war and its effects constitutes the profound reason for the story and the dramaturgical structure (Aeschylus' Persians and Agamemnon; Euripides' Trojans and Suppliants).
Part A (20 hours, 3 credits): Theater in the Greek world
Part B (20 hours, 3 credits): Aeschylus' Persians and Agamemnon
Part C (20 hours, 3 credits): Euripides' Trojans and Suppliants.
Prerequisites for admission
Students are required to have the basic historical-cultural knowledge (high school level) of the VII-III centuries BC Mediterranean area. The knowledge of the Ancient Greek language is not required.
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons
Teaching Resources
Part 1 Bibliography for students attending:
- G. Daverio, Il mondo dei Greci. Profilo di storia, civiltà e costume, ed. Pearson, Milano 2020 (edizione cartacea o digitale).
- M.Cavalli, Lo spettacolo nel mondo greco, ed. Campus, B. Mondadori, Milano 2008.
- AA.VV., Le parole del mito, a cura di M.Cavalli, ed. CUEM, Milano 2006
Part 2 Bibliography for students attending:
Complete reading in translation of Aeschylus' Persians and Agamemnon (free editions).
Part 3
Bibliography for attending students:
Complete reading in translation of Euripides' Trojans and Suppliant (free editions).
Bibliography for NON attending students:
Students who do not intend to attend must contact the teacher via email to agree on an alternative bibliography.
- G. Daverio, Il mondo dei Greci. Profilo di storia, civiltà e costume, ed. Pearson, Milano 2020 (edizione cartacea o digitale).
- M.Cavalli, Lo spettacolo nel mondo greco, ed. Campus, B. Mondadori, Milano 2008.
- AA.VV., Le parole del mito, a cura di M.Cavalli, ed. CUEM, Milano 2006
Part 2 Bibliography for students attending:
Complete reading in translation of Aeschylus' Persians and Agamemnon (free editions).
Part 3
Bibliography for attending students:
Complete reading in translation of Euripides' Trojans and Suppliant (free editions).
Bibliography for NON attending students:
Students who do not intend to attend must contact the teacher via email to agree on an alternative bibliography.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Oral: The oral test consists of an interview on the program topics, aimed at ascertaining the knowledge of the history of ancient Greek theater, as well as the fundamental lines of the historical, cultural and literary panorama of ancient Greece, necessary to correctly interpret the phenomenon of entertainment in the 5th-4th centuries B.C. Reading in translation of ancient texts in the bibliography is also required. Knowledge of the Greek language is not required.
Modules or teaching units
Unita' didattica A
L-FIL-LET/02 - GREEK LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
L-FIL-LET/02 - GREEK LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
L-FIL-LET/02 - GREEK LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours