Religions of the Classical World
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims to offer the student a general preparation on the contents of the discipline and a series of hermeneutic tools that have their bases in the birth of the history of religions as an autonomous object of critical reflection. The field of investigation will be delimited by the perimeter of Greek-Latin polytheism. The course also aims at integrating its objectives with those identified by the Humanities degree course, with particular attention to the antiquity course.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge: the student will be guided to the knowledge of the problems of the religions of the classical world and to an overall reconstruction of the methodologies of study related to them. They will know the different hermeneutic opportunities offered by the history of studies and the different elements that characterize ancient polytheism (naming the gods, beliefs, ritual systems, religious ceremonies, festivals).
Competences: the student will be able to interpret, starting from the analysis of the ritual context, the religious phenomena in the ancient world, making the most of his or her personal patrimony of knowledge and of the examples proposed. They will also be able to understand affinities and divergences in the presentation of the problem, starting from the different sources used (literary, iconographic, documentary).
Competences: the student will be able to interpret, starting from the analysis of the ritual context, the religious phenomena in the ancient world, making the most of his or her personal patrimony of knowledge and of the examples proposed. They will also be able to understand affinities and divergences in the presentation of the problem, starting from the different sources used (literary, iconographic, documentary).
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Part I
The first part is devoted to the reconstruction of the history of the studies that led to the definition of the discipline as a historical discipline that makes use of the contribution of different hermeneutic approaches, specifically and in particular: philosophy, anthropology, ethnology, and history.
Part II
The second part deals with some key concepts for the understanding of classical religions: polytheism, religion/superstition/magic, pantheon, sacrifice, places of worship, funerary cults and beliefs etc. Special attention will be paid to the reading of ancient sources, textual and iconographic, and their interpretation.
Part III
The third part of the programme will be focused on exploring the rich set of beliefs and cultural traditions connected to Minoan religion, with a special focus on the performative nature of rituals and iconographic representations (seals, imprints, tablets). Great attention will also be paid to the complex of so-called Minoan deities, present on Linear B tablets, including Dionysus, Zeus, Athena and the goddess of childbirth. The labyrinth will be the subject of a dedicated lesson.
The first part is devoted to the reconstruction of the history of the studies that led to the definition of the discipline as a historical discipline that makes use of the contribution of different hermeneutic approaches, specifically and in particular: philosophy, anthropology, ethnology, and history.
Part II
The second part deals with some key concepts for the understanding of classical religions: polytheism, religion/superstition/magic, pantheon, sacrifice, places of worship, funerary cults and beliefs etc. Special attention will be paid to the reading of ancient sources, textual and iconographic, and their interpretation.
Part III
The third part of the programme will be focused on exploring the rich set of beliefs and cultural traditions connected to Minoan religion, with a special focus on the performative nature of rituals and iconographic representations (seals, imprints, tablets). Great attention will also be paid to the complex of so-called Minoan deities, present on Linear B tablets, including Dionysus, Zeus, Athena and the goddess of childbirth. The labyrinth will be the subject of a dedicated lesson.
Prerequisites for admission
No prerequisites for admission.
Teaching methods
The course is offered in a lecture format. It has no formal entry requirements. However, attendance is strongly recommended, given that most students have no previous knowledge of this subject from school.
Teaching Resources
Part I C. Pisano, La religione dei Greci, Carocci 2025
S. Romani, Inghilterra. Greci, Romani e selvaggi, in "L'antropologia del mondo antico" (saggio caricato a cura del docente su Ariel a inizio corso)
Part II G. De Sanctis, La religione a Roma, Carocci
Part III S. Romani, Arianna. Le insidie dell'amore (e-book)
Master's students are also expected to read:
Part I: R. Callois, L'uomo e il sacro
Part II: M. Bettini, Elogio del Politeismo
Part III: L. Godart, Da Minosse a Omero, in particolare i capitoli I, VII-XIII (e-book)
Non attending students:
Part I: G. Pironti, C. Bonnett (ed.), Gli dei d'Omero. Politeismo e poesia nella Grecia antica (Studi Superiori); one between R. Otto, Il sacro; R. Caillois, L'uomo e il sacro
Part II: Francesca Prescendi, Philippe Borgeaud, (ed.), Religioni Antiche. Un'introduzione comparata, Carocci, 2011. G. De Sanctis, La religione a Roma, Carocci
Part III: S. Romani, Inghilterra. Greci, Romani e selvaggi, in "L'antropologia del mondo antico" (essay, on ariel); K. Kerényi, Nel labirinto, Bollati Boringhieri
S. Romani, Inghilterra. Greci, Romani e selvaggi, in "L'antropologia del mondo antico" (saggio caricato a cura del docente su Ariel a inizio corso)
Part II G. De Sanctis, La religione a Roma, Carocci
Part III S. Romani, Arianna. Le insidie dell'amore (e-book)
Master's students are also expected to read:
Part I: R. Callois, L'uomo e il sacro
Part II: M. Bettini, Elogio del Politeismo
Part III: L. Godart, Da Minosse a Omero, in particolare i capitoli I, VII-XIII (e-book)
Non attending students:
Part I: G. Pironti, C. Bonnett (ed.), Gli dei d'Omero. Politeismo e poesia nella Grecia antica (Studi Superiori); one between R. Otto, Il sacro; R. Caillois, L'uomo e il sacro
Part II: Francesca Prescendi, Philippe Borgeaud, (ed.), Religioni Antiche. Un'introduzione comparata, Carocci, 2011. G. De Sanctis, La religione a Roma, Carocci
Part III: S. Romani, Inghilterra. Greci, Romani e selvaggi, in "L'antropologia del mondo antico" (essay, on ariel); K. Kerényi, Nel labirinto, Bollati Boringhieri
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.
Professor(s)
Reception:
Thursday 10.30 (in person), scheduled only
in person, cortile della legnaia, first floor (geography's section, first door on the left); on line via teams (scheduled only)