Anthropology of the Ancient World
A.Y. 2022/2023
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: 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
Course syllabus
BOTH ATTENDING AND NON ATTENDING STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO JOIN THE 2022-2023 CLASSIC WORLD ANTHROPOLOGY TEAM ON MICROSOFT TEAMS WHERE COMMUNICATIONS, MATERIALS, EXERCISES WILL BE AVAILABLE.
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.
The first part of the course 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.).
The second part is devoted to plants in classical cultures.
In the contemporary philosophical and anthropological debate, the relationship between nature and culture is the object of growing criticism and revision (Descola, Viveiros de Castro). Within this frame, however, the relationship between men and plants is often overlooked because of a "zoocentric prejudice" (Coccia) that induces to focus on humans and animals. This course aims to explore the cultural representations of plants (in particular trees) in Greece and Rome, following three main axes: 1. plants as metaphors of the human dimension (corporeal metaphors, metaphors of filiation, growth and physical development) 2. plant spaces (gardens and frontier spaces) 3. plants and the divine world (with particular reference to the nymphs and the Apollo / Artemis couple)
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.
The first part of the course 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.).
The second part is devoted to plants in classical cultures.
In the contemporary philosophical and anthropological debate, the relationship between nature and culture is the object of growing criticism and revision (Descola, Viveiros de Castro). Within this frame, however, the relationship between men and plants is often overlooked because of a "zoocentric prejudice" (Coccia) that induces to focus on humans and animals. This course aims to explore the cultural representations of plants (in particular trees) in Greece and Rome, following three main axes: 1. plants as metaphors of the human dimension (corporeal metaphors, metaphors of filiation, growth and physical development) 2. plant spaces (gardens and frontier spaces) 3. plants and the divine world (with particular reference to the nymphs and the Apollo / Artemis couple)
Prerequisites for admission
The course has no entry requirements.
Teaching methods
The course is lecture-based.
Teaching Resources
N.B. slides and other exam support material will be uploaded to the Team "Antropologia del mondo classico 2022-2023" Team, where there will also be a channel dedicated to non-attending students, in order to facilitate any communications.
Reading List
READING LIST
ATTENDING BA STUDENTS
Part A:
- Maurizio Bettini, William M. Short, Con i Romani, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2014, chapters from I to III and from V to VII (English edition: The World Through Roman Eyes: Anthropological Approaches to Ancient Culture, Cambridge UP, 2018)
- J. P. Vernant, Mito e pensiero, Einaudi (diverse edizioni), part 2 (Aspetti mitici della memoria e del tempo) and 3 (L'organizzazione dello spazio) (English Edition: Myth and Thought among the Greeks, Princeton UP, 2006)
Part B:
- G. Repici, Nature silenziose. Le piante nel pensiero ellenistico e romano, Il Mulino 2015 (downloadable from the Library Catalogue) OR G. Squillace, G. Repici, Nature silenziose. Le piante nel pensiero ellenistico e romano, Il Mulino 2015 (downloadable from the library site) o in alternativa Le lacrime di Mirra. Miti e luoghi dei profumi nel mondo antico, Il Mulino, Bologna 2015 (downloadable from the library site).
- Giampiera Arrigoni (a cura di), Dei e piante nell'antica Grecia (1: Riflessioni metodologiche, Efesto, Demetra in Grecia, Magna Grecia e Sicilia, Kore Persefone, Ecate, Apollo, Afrodite), Sestante 2018, pp. 13-32 OR Maurizio Bettini, William M. Short, Con i Romani, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2014, cap. XI (Le piante) OR Maurizio Bettini, William M. Short, Con i Romani, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2014 cap. XIV (La metafora)
NON ATTENDING BA STUDENTS
Part A:
- Maurizio Bettini, William M. Short, Con i Romani, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2014, chapters from I to XI (English edition: The World Through Roman Eyes: Anthropological Approaches to Ancient Culture, Cambridge UP, 2018).
- J. P. Vernant, Mito e pensiero, Einaudi, part 2 (Aspetti mitici della memoria e del tempo) and part 3 (L'organizzazione dello spazio) (English Edition: Myth and Thought among the Greeks, Princeton UP, 2006)
- Claude Lévi-Strauss, Mito e significato. Cinque conversazioni, Milano, Il Saggiatore, 2016 (English edition: Myth and Meaning. Five talks for radio by Claude Lévi-Strauss, Toronto UP 1978 downloadable from the library catalogue)
Part B:
- G. Repici, Nature silenziose. Le piante nel pensiero ellenistico e romano, Il Mulino 2015 (downloadable from the Library Catalogue).
- Giampiera Arrigoni (ed.), Dei e piante nell'antica Grecia (1: Riflessioni metodologiche, Efesto, Demetra in Grecia, Magna Grecia e Sicilia, Kore Persefone, Ecate, Apollo, Afrodite), Sestante 2018, pp. 13-32, pp. 285-382.
ATTENDING MA STUDENTS
Parte A:
- Maurizio Bettini, William M. Short, Con i Romani, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2014, chapters from I to XI (English edition: The World Through Roman Eyes: Anthropological Approaches to Ancient Culture, Cambridge UP, 2018).
- J. P. Vernant, Mito e pensiero, Einaudi (diverse edizioni), part 2 (Aspetti mitici della memoria e del tempo), part 3 (L'organizzazione dello spazio), part 5 (La categoria psicologica del doppio) (English Edition: Myth and Thought among the Greeks, Princeton UP, 2006).
- Claude Lévi-Strauss, Mito e significato. Cinque conversazioni, Milano, Il Saggiatore, 2016 (English edition: Myth and Meaning. Five talks for radio by Claude Lévi-Strauss, Toronto UP 1978 downloadable from the library catalogue).
Parte B:
- G. Repici, Nature silenziose. Le piante nel pensiero ellenistico e romano, Il Mulino 2015 (downloadable from the Library Catalogue).
- Giampiera Arrigoni (a cura di), Dei e piante nell'antica Grecia (1: Riflessioni metodologiche, Efesto, Demetra in Grecia, Magna Grecia e Sicilia, Kore Persefone, Ecate, Apollo, Afrodite), Sestante 2018, pp. 13-32, pp. 285-382.
- G. Squillace, Le lacrime di Mirra. Miti e luoghi dei profumi nel mondo antico, Il Mulino, Bologna 2015, parte 1 (il mito) e parte 2 (tra storia e aneddoto) (downloadable from the Library Catalogue).
NON ATTENDING MA STUDENTS
Parte A:
- Maurizio Bettini, William M. Short, Con i Romani, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2014
(English edition: The World Through Roman Eyes: Anthropological Approaches to Ancient Culture, Cambridge UP, 2018).
- J. P. Vernant, Mito e pensiero, Einaudi (diverse edizioni), part 2 (Aspetti mitici della memoria e del tempo), part 3 (L'organizzazione dello spazio) and part 5 (La categoria psicologica del doppio)(English Edition: Myth and Thought among the Greeks, Princeton UP, 2006).
- Claude Lévi-Strauss, Mito e significato. Cinque conversazioni, Milano, Il Saggiatore, 2016 (English edition: Myth and Meaning. Five talks for radio by Claude Lévi-Strauss, Toronto UP 1978 downloadable from the library catalogue).
Parte B:
-- G. Repici, Nature silenziose. Le piante nel pensiero ellenistico e romano, Il Mulino 2015 (downloadable from the Library Catalogue)
- Giampiera Arrigoni (a cura di), Dei e piante nell'antica Grecia (1: Riflessioni metodologiche, Efesto, Demetra in Grecia, Magna Grecia e Sicilia, Kore Persefone, Ecate, Apollo, Afrodite), Sestante 2018, pp. 13-32, pp. 221-382.
- Claude Calame, L'uomo e il suo ambiente, Sellerio 2021 (French edition: Avenir de la planète et urgence climatique. Au-delà de l'opposition nature/culture, éditions Lignes 2016)
Reading List
READING LIST
ATTENDING BA STUDENTS
Part A:
- Maurizio Bettini, William M. Short, Con i Romani, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2014, chapters from I to III and from V to VII (English edition: The World Through Roman Eyes: Anthropological Approaches to Ancient Culture, Cambridge UP, 2018)
- J. P. Vernant, Mito e pensiero, Einaudi (diverse edizioni), part 2 (Aspetti mitici della memoria e del tempo) and 3 (L'organizzazione dello spazio) (English Edition: Myth and Thought among the Greeks, Princeton UP, 2006)
Part B:
- G. Repici, Nature silenziose. Le piante nel pensiero ellenistico e romano, Il Mulino 2015 (downloadable from the Library Catalogue) OR G. Squillace, G. Repici, Nature silenziose. Le piante nel pensiero ellenistico e romano, Il Mulino 2015 (downloadable from the library site) o in alternativa Le lacrime di Mirra. Miti e luoghi dei profumi nel mondo antico, Il Mulino, Bologna 2015 (downloadable from the library site).
- Giampiera Arrigoni (a cura di), Dei e piante nell'antica Grecia (1: Riflessioni metodologiche, Efesto, Demetra in Grecia, Magna Grecia e Sicilia, Kore Persefone, Ecate, Apollo, Afrodite), Sestante 2018, pp. 13-32 OR Maurizio Bettini, William M. Short, Con i Romani, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2014, cap. XI (Le piante) OR Maurizio Bettini, William M. Short, Con i Romani, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2014 cap. XIV (La metafora)
NON ATTENDING BA STUDENTS
Part A:
- Maurizio Bettini, William M. Short, Con i Romani, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2014, chapters from I to XI (English edition: The World Through Roman Eyes: Anthropological Approaches to Ancient Culture, Cambridge UP, 2018).
- J. P. Vernant, Mito e pensiero, Einaudi, part 2 (Aspetti mitici della memoria e del tempo) and part 3 (L'organizzazione dello spazio) (English Edition: Myth and Thought among the Greeks, Princeton UP, 2006)
- Claude Lévi-Strauss, Mito e significato. Cinque conversazioni, Milano, Il Saggiatore, 2016 (English edition: Myth and Meaning. Five talks for radio by Claude Lévi-Strauss, Toronto UP 1978 downloadable from the library catalogue)
Part B:
- G. Repici, Nature silenziose. Le piante nel pensiero ellenistico e romano, Il Mulino 2015 (downloadable from the Library Catalogue).
- Giampiera Arrigoni (ed.), Dei e piante nell'antica Grecia (1: Riflessioni metodologiche, Efesto, Demetra in Grecia, Magna Grecia e Sicilia, Kore Persefone, Ecate, Apollo, Afrodite), Sestante 2018, pp. 13-32, pp. 285-382.
ATTENDING MA STUDENTS
Parte A:
- Maurizio Bettini, William M. Short, Con i Romani, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2014, chapters from I to XI (English edition: The World Through Roman Eyes: Anthropological Approaches to Ancient Culture, Cambridge UP, 2018).
- J. P. Vernant, Mito e pensiero, Einaudi (diverse edizioni), part 2 (Aspetti mitici della memoria e del tempo), part 3 (L'organizzazione dello spazio), part 5 (La categoria psicologica del doppio) (English Edition: Myth and Thought among the Greeks, Princeton UP, 2006).
- Claude Lévi-Strauss, Mito e significato. Cinque conversazioni, Milano, Il Saggiatore, 2016 (English edition: Myth and Meaning. Five talks for radio by Claude Lévi-Strauss, Toronto UP 1978 downloadable from the library catalogue).
Parte B:
- G. Repici, Nature silenziose. Le piante nel pensiero ellenistico e romano, Il Mulino 2015 (downloadable from the Library Catalogue).
- Giampiera Arrigoni (a cura di), Dei e piante nell'antica Grecia (1: Riflessioni metodologiche, Efesto, Demetra in Grecia, Magna Grecia e Sicilia, Kore Persefone, Ecate, Apollo, Afrodite), Sestante 2018, pp. 13-32, pp. 285-382.
- G. Squillace, Le lacrime di Mirra. Miti e luoghi dei profumi nel mondo antico, Il Mulino, Bologna 2015, parte 1 (il mito) e parte 2 (tra storia e aneddoto) (downloadable from the Library Catalogue).
NON ATTENDING MA STUDENTS
Parte A:
- Maurizio Bettini, William M. Short, Con i Romani, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2014
(English edition: The World Through Roman Eyes: Anthropological Approaches to Ancient Culture, Cambridge UP, 2018).
- J. P. Vernant, Mito e pensiero, Einaudi (diverse edizioni), part 2 (Aspetti mitici della memoria e del tempo), part 3 (L'organizzazione dello spazio) and part 5 (La categoria psicologica del doppio)(English Edition: Myth and Thought among the Greeks, Princeton UP, 2006).
- Claude Lévi-Strauss, Mito e significato. Cinque conversazioni, Milano, Il Saggiatore, 2016 (English edition: Myth and Meaning. Five talks for radio by Claude Lévi-Strauss, Toronto UP 1978 downloadable from the library catalogue).
Parte B:
-- G. Repici, Nature silenziose. Le piante nel pensiero ellenistico e romano, Il Mulino 2015 (downloadable from the Library Catalogue)
- Giampiera Arrigoni (a cura di), Dei e piante nell'antica Grecia (1: Riflessioni metodologiche, Efesto, Demetra in Grecia, Magna Grecia e Sicilia, Kore Persefone, Ecate, Apollo, Afrodite), Sestante 2018, pp. 13-32, pp. 221-382.
- Claude Calame, L'uomo e il suo ambiente, Sellerio 2021 (French edition: Avenir de la planète et urgence climatique. Au-delà de l'opposition nature/culture, éditions Lignes 2016)
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 promptly.
The examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or with learning disabilities must be agreed upon 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 promptly.
The examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or with learning disabilities must be agreed upon with the teacher, in agreement with the competent office.
Unita' didattica A
M-STO/06 - HISTORY OF RELIGIONS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
M-STO/06 - HISTORY OF RELIGIONS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours