Roman Institutions and Epigraphy
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims at providing both an in-depth preparation with regard to Roman institutions (powers and competencies of magistrates, popular assemblies and the senate; powers and role of the emperor) and an overview of some of the most significant moments in the history of Rome in the Republican and Imperial periods through the reading and the analysis of epigraphic documents, with particular attention to those of a juridical nature.
Expected learning outcomes
Students will acquire in-depth knowledge of Rome's institutional and administrative bodies and their reflections on political, economic and social dynamics in the Roman world. They will also develop skills useful in using epigraphic documentation to reconstruct aspects of the political, institutional, administrative and social history of Rome, the cities of Roman Italy and of the Roman Empire.
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
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The Roman Empire through inscriptions: from the Republic to the Principate
The course aims to explore various aspects of the history of ancient Rome between the Republic and the Principate, through the analysis of epigraphic documents (in Latin and translation), compared with other sources.
Parts A and B will focus on investigating the relations between Rome and the provincial communities of the Mediterranean area, studied on the basis of inscriptions, with particular attention to historical, political, institutional, economic, religious, and social issues. Through the analysis of sources, it will be possible to reconstruct the most salient aspects of the dynamics that led Rome to gradually control the entire ancient Mediterranean basin from the third century BC onwards.
Part C will be devoted to the reading and analysis of the Res Gestae of Augustus, with particular attention not only to the Latin text but also to the Greek version, with the aim of observing the peculiarities of the latter with respect to the Latin text. It will therefore be possible to outline the ideological-propagandistic discourse of this extremely important testimony on the Augustan age, with particular reference to the problem of the dissemination and understanding of the text in the Greek-speaking provinces of the empire. The reading will be followed by the translation of the texts by the teachers.
The course aims to explore various aspects of the history of ancient Rome between the Republic and the Principate, through the analysis of epigraphic documents (in Latin and translation), compared with other sources.
Parts A and B will focus on investigating the relations between Rome and the provincial communities of the Mediterranean area, studied on the basis of inscriptions, with particular attention to historical, political, institutional, economic, religious, and social issues. Through the analysis of sources, it will be possible to reconstruct the most salient aspects of the dynamics that led Rome to gradually control the entire ancient Mediterranean basin from the third century BC onwards.
Part C will be devoted to the reading and analysis of the Res Gestae of Augustus, with particular attention not only to the Latin text but also to the Greek version, with the aim of observing the peculiarities of the latter with respect to the Latin text. It will therefore be possible to outline the ideological-propagandistic discourse of this extremely important testimony on the Augustan age, with particular reference to the problem of the dissemination and understanding of the text in the Greek-speaking provinces of the empire. The reading will be followed by the translation of the texts by the teachers.
Prerequisites for admission
Prior knowledge of Latin is strongly recommended.
Teaching methods
The course is delivered through frontal lectures. Online databases (especially Epigraphic Database Roma and Epigraphische Datenbank Clauss Slaby) will allow students to access and examine inscriptions with accompanying images. Epigraphic documents will be made available on the MyAriel course platform.
Teaching Resources
Program for attending students:
Part A (3 CFU, 20 hours)
1) Handbook: P. Lepore, Introduzione all'epigrafia giuridica, Giuffré.
2) Study of lecture notes and texts analyzed in class. The texts will be provided on the MyAriel website.
Part B (3 CFU, 20 hours):
1) W. Eck, L'Italia nell'impero romano, Edipuglia. Chap. 4 (pp. 117-150) and chap. 5 (pp. 151-185). The PDF files of the texts will be uploaded to the MyAriel website for the course.
2) Study of lecture notes and texts analyzed in class. The texts will be provided on the MyAriel website.
Part C (3 CFU, 20 hours):
1) Ottaviano Augusto, Res gestae, a c. di L. Canali, Mondadori
2) Study of lecture notes.
Students taking the 6-credit exam must attend Parts A and B, prepare the relevant notes, and study the texts indicated for Parts A and B.
Students taking the 6-credit exam are exempt from Part C lectures and from studying the books assigned for Part C.
Students taking the 9-credit exam must attend Parts A, B, and C, prepare the relevant notes, and study the texts indicated for Parts A, B, and C.
Program for not attending students:
Parte A (3 CFU):
1) Handbook: P. Lepore, Introduzione all'epigrafia giuridica, Giuffré.
2) C. Letta, S. Segenni, L'amministrazione romana, Carocci
Parte B (3 CFU):
1) W. Eck, L'Italia nell'impero romano, Edipuglia. Chap. 4 (pp. 117-150), chap. 5 (pp. 151-185) and chap. 7 (pp. 253-275). I The PDF files of the texts will be uploaded to the MyAriel website for the course.
2) Twenty inscriptions at student's choice (with related commentary) M. Cébeillac Gervasoni, M.L. Caldelli, F. Zevi, Epigrafia latina. Ostia: cento iscrizioni in contesto, Quasar. Insctiptions must be previously agreed with the teacher.
Parte C (3 CFU):
1) P. Arena, Augusto. Res Gestae, Edipuglia
2) W. Eck, Augusto e il suo tempo, Il Mulino.
Non-attending students who will take the 6-credit exam must study the texts indicated for Parts A and B.
Non-attending students who will take the 9-credit exam must study the texts indicated for Parts A, B, and C.
Part A (3 CFU, 20 hours)
1) Handbook: P. Lepore, Introduzione all'epigrafia giuridica, Giuffré.
2) Study of lecture notes and texts analyzed in class. The texts will be provided on the MyAriel website.
Part B (3 CFU, 20 hours):
1) W. Eck, L'Italia nell'impero romano, Edipuglia. Chap. 4 (pp. 117-150) and chap. 5 (pp. 151-185). The PDF files of the texts will be uploaded to the MyAriel website for the course.
2) Study of lecture notes and texts analyzed in class. The texts will be provided on the MyAriel website.
Part C (3 CFU, 20 hours):
1) Ottaviano Augusto, Res gestae, a c. di L. Canali, Mondadori
2) Study of lecture notes.
Students taking the 6-credit exam must attend Parts A and B, prepare the relevant notes, and study the texts indicated for Parts A and B.
Students taking the 6-credit exam are exempt from Part C lectures and from studying the books assigned for Part C.
Students taking the 9-credit exam must attend Parts A, B, and C, prepare the relevant notes, and study the texts indicated for Parts A, B, and C.
Program for not attending students:
Parte A (3 CFU):
1) Handbook: P. Lepore, Introduzione all'epigrafia giuridica, Giuffré.
2) C. Letta, S. Segenni, L'amministrazione romana, Carocci
Parte B (3 CFU):
1) W. Eck, L'Italia nell'impero romano, Edipuglia. Chap. 4 (pp. 117-150), chap. 5 (pp. 151-185) and chap. 7 (pp. 253-275). I The PDF files of the texts will be uploaded to the MyAriel website for the course.
2) Twenty inscriptions at student's choice (with related commentary) M. Cébeillac Gervasoni, M.L. Caldelli, F. Zevi, Epigrafia latina. Ostia: cento iscrizioni in contesto, Quasar. Insctiptions must be previously agreed with the teacher.
Parte C (3 CFU):
1) P. Arena, Augusto. Res Gestae, Edipuglia
2) W. Eck, Augusto e il suo tempo, Il Mulino.
Non-attending students who will take the 6-credit exam must study the texts indicated for Parts A and B.
Non-attending students who will take the 9-credit exam must study the texts indicated for Parts A, B, and C.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The oral exam consists of an interview aimed at assessing the skills acquired in the field of epigraphy, with particular reference to the topics covered in the textbook and during the course. Students will be assessed on their ability to read, translate, analyze, and comment on the inscriptions covered during the lessons.
Part A and B
L-ANT/03 - ROMAN HISTORY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Russo Federico
Part C
L-ANT/03 - ROMAN HISTORY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Bellomo Michele
Professor(s)