Greek Institutions and Epigraphy
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
The aim of the course it to provide students with the basic elements, methods and technical aspects of Greek epigraphy as well as an introduction to the use of inscriptions as a source for historical research, with particular reference to institutional aspects. Indeed, the study of a large number of epigraphic documents, both public and private, will allow important aspects of the political and administrative, but also social and cultural history of the Greek world to be explored.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge: detailed knowledge of the fundamental elements of Greek epigraphy and of the core questions concerning: a) the origins of alphabetic writing in the Greek world, b) its diversified uses (from basic to complex) in respect to the different writing media, and c) the various graphic and linguistic features of Greek inscriptions and their development from the archaic period to Roman times.
Skills: ability to identify the various material features and typologies of inscriptions (both public and private), as well as their specific formulaic language, meanings, and purposes as means of communication; awareness of the methodology for using inscriptions as multidisciplinary sources, alongside other forms of historical evidence. Other expected skills include the appropriate use of technical terminology and the ability to use the most appropriate bibliographic tools.
Skills: ability to identify the various material features and typologies of inscriptions (both public and private), as well as their specific formulaic language, meanings, and purposes as means of communication; awareness of the methodology for using inscriptions as multidisciplinary sources, alongside other forms of historical evidence. Other expected skills include the appropriate use of technical terminology and the ability to use the most appropriate bibliographic tools.
Lesson period: Second 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
Second semester
Course syllabus
The Epigraphy of the Aegean: Stories of Islands, Women, Men, and Cities
The topics dealt with during the course include:
Part A: Greek epigraphy: alphabets, types of inscribed material, categories of texts, techniques of reading and transcribing inscriptions, digital resources for the study of Greek Epigraphy
Parts B-C: Inscriptions from the Aegean Islands. The course will focus on the study of a selection of Greek inscriptions from the Cyclades and the wider Aegean, with particular attention to Amorgos, Samos, Tenos, Thera and Thasos, among other islands. Its aim is to shed light on the societies, institutions, and economies of the Aegean islands within a historical framework that highlights both the distinctive features of individual island communities and the characteristics they shared.
The topics dealt with during the course include:
Part A: Greek epigraphy: alphabets, types of inscribed material, categories of texts, techniques of reading and transcribing inscriptions, digital resources for the study of Greek Epigraphy
Parts B-C: Inscriptions from the Aegean Islands. The course will focus on the study of a selection of Greek inscriptions from the Cyclades and the wider Aegean, with particular attention to Amorgos, Samos, Tenos, Thera and Thasos, among other islands. Its aim is to shed light on the societies, institutions, and economies of the Aegean islands within a historical framework that highlights both the distinctive features of individual island communities and the characteristics they shared.
Prerequisites for admission
The course is addressed to students of the Master's programmes in Philology, Literature and History of Antiquity, in Archaeology and in Historical Sciences who have a good knowledge of Greek history.
Teaching methods
Part A will be offered in a lecture format and will be dedicated to the history of Greek epigraphy and its technical aspects. Parts B and C will be offered as seminar presentations, open to discussion and developed through the study of a set of inscriptions, analyzed both in their palaeographic aspects both in their historical, economic, institutional context. The course will also include practical sessions involving the autoptic examination of selected inscriptions. In addition, students will be introduced to the essential bibliography and the main electronic resources available for the study of Greek epigraphy.
The teaching is also based on educational material provided on MyARIEL, where texts and documents discussed during the course will be available for downloading as well.
Attendance of the course is highly recommended.
The teaching is also based on educational material provided on MyARIEL, where texts and documents discussed during the course will be available for downloading as well.
Attendance of the course is highly recommended.
Teaching Resources
Programme for 6 ECTS for attending students
Together with the lectures notes and ancient sources examined during the course and made available on MyARIEL, the knowledge of the following texts is required:
A-B
- M. Guarducci, L'epigrafia greca dalle origini al tardo impero, Roma, Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, 1987, pp. 10-80; 90-278; 313-320; 326-358; 418-442
- A. Inglese, A. Campus, Percorsi di ricerca in epigrafia greca, Rome: Edizioni Quasar, 2024, pp. 13-112; 181-200
- A. Inglese (ed. by), Epigrammata 5. Dinamiche politiche ed istituzionali nell'epigrafia delle Cicladi, Tivoli, TORED 2020 (contributions by Constantakopoulou, Cordano, Camia, Foderà, Erdas, Inglese, Ceccarelli, Di Nicuolo, Lombardo).
Some of the readings required for the examination are available in PDF format on the course MyARIEL website.
Programme for 9 ECTS for attending students
Together with the lectures notes and ancient sources examined during the course and made available on MyARIEL, the knowledge of the following texts is required:
A-B
- M. Guarducci, L'epigrafia greca dalle origini al tardo impero, Roma, Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, 1987, pp. 10-80; 90-278; 313-320; 326-358; 418-442
- A. Inglese, A. Campus, Percorsi di ricerca in epigrafia greca, Rome: Edizioni Quasar, 2024, 13-112; 181-200
- A. Inglese (ed. by), Epigrammata 5. Dinamiche politiche ed istituzionali nell'epigrafia delle Cicladi, Tivoli, TORED 2020 (contributions by Constantakopoulou, Cordano, Camia, Foderà, Erdas, Inglese, Ceccarelli, Di Nicuolo, Lombardo).
C
- C. Constantakopoulou, The dance of the islands: insularity, networks, the Athenian empire, and the Aegean world, Oxford University Press, Oxford-New York 2007
- In the final lectures, students will also be required to prepare an epigraphic record on an inscription to be agreed upon with the teacher
Some of the readings required for the examination are available in PDF format on the course MyARIEL website.
Programme for 6 ECTS for non attending students
A-B
The knowledge of the following texts is required:
- M. Guarducci, L'epigrafia greca dalle origini al tardo impero, Roma, Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, 1987, pp. 10-80; 90-278; 313-320; 326-358; 418-442
- A. Inglese, A. Campus, Percorsi di ricerca in epigrafia greca, Rome: Edizioni Quasar, 2024, 13-112; 181-200
- A. Inglese (ed. by), Epigrammata 5. Dinamiche politiche ed istituzionali nell'epigrafia delle Cicladi, Tivoli, TORED 2020 (contributions by Constantakopoulou, Cordano, Camia, Foderà, Erdas, Inglese, Ceccarelli, Di Nicuolo, Lombardo).
- C. Antonetti, S. De Vido, Iscrizioni greche. Un'antologia, Roma, Carocci, 2017, inscriptions nos. 3; 11; 26; 37; 38
Some of the readings required for the examination are available in PDF format on the course MyARIEL website.
Non-attending students are strongly encouraged to get in touch with the teacher to better agree on the exam syllabus.
Programme for 9 ECTS for non attending students
A-B
The knowledge of the following texts is required:
- M. Guarducci, L'epigrafia greca dalle origini al tardo impero, Roma, Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, 1987, pp. 10-80; 90-278; 313-320; 326-358; 418-442
- A. Inglese, A. Campus, Percorsi di ricerca in epigrafia greca, Rome: Edizioni Quasar, 2024, 13-112; 181-200
- A. Inglese (ed. by), Epigrammata 5. Dinamiche politiche ed istituzionali nell'epigrafia delle Cicladi, Tivoli, TORED 2020 (contributions by Constantakopoulou, Cordano, Camia, Foderà, Erdas, Inglese, Ceccarelli, Di Nicuolo, Lombardo).
- C. Antonetti, S. De Vido, Iscrizioni greche. Un'antologia, Roma, Carocci, 2017, inscriptions nos. 3; 11; 26; 37; 38
C
- C. Constantakopoulou, The dance of the islands: insularity, networks, the Athenian empire, and the Aegean world, Oxford University Press, Oxford-New York 2007
- A.C. Cassio, Epica greca e scrittura tra VIII e VII sec. a.C.: madrepatria e colonie d'Occidente, in G. Bagnasco, F. Cordano (ed. by), Scritture mediterranee tra il IX e il VII secolo a.C. Atti del seminario (Milano, 23-24 febbraio 1998), Milano, Edizioni ET, 1998, pp. 67-84
Some of the readings required for the examination are available in PDF format on the course MyARIEL website.
Non-attending students are strongly encouraged to get in touch with the teacher to better agree on the exam syllabus.
International and Erasmus incoming students are invited to promptly get in touch with the professor in order to arrange a reading plan (available in English) for exam preparation.
Together with the lectures notes and ancient sources examined during the course and made available on MyARIEL, the knowledge of the following texts is required:
A-B
- M. Guarducci, L'epigrafia greca dalle origini al tardo impero, Roma, Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, 1987, pp. 10-80; 90-278; 313-320; 326-358; 418-442
- A. Inglese, A. Campus, Percorsi di ricerca in epigrafia greca, Rome: Edizioni Quasar, 2024, pp. 13-112; 181-200
- A. Inglese (ed. by), Epigrammata 5. Dinamiche politiche ed istituzionali nell'epigrafia delle Cicladi, Tivoli, TORED 2020 (contributions by Constantakopoulou, Cordano, Camia, Foderà, Erdas, Inglese, Ceccarelli, Di Nicuolo, Lombardo).
Some of the readings required for the examination are available in PDF format on the course MyARIEL website.
Programme for 9 ECTS for attending students
Together with the lectures notes and ancient sources examined during the course and made available on MyARIEL, the knowledge of the following texts is required:
A-B
- M. Guarducci, L'epigrafia greca dalle origini al tardo impero, Roma, Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, 1987, pp. 10-80; 90-278; 313-320; 326-358; 418-442
- A. Inglese, A. Campus, Percorsi di ricerca in epigrafia greca, Rome: Edizioni Quasar, 2024, 13-112; 181-200
- A. Inglese (ed. by), Epigrammata 5. Dinamiche politiche ed istituzionali nell'epigrafia delle Cicladi, Tivoli, TORED 2020 (contributions by Constantakopoulou, Cordano, Camia, Foderà, Erdas, Inglese, Ceccarelli, Di Nicuolo, Lombardo).
C
- C. Constantakopoulou, The dance of the islands: insularity, networks, the Athenian empire, and the Aegean world, Oxford University Press, Oxford-New York 2007
- In the final lectures, students will also be required to prepare an epigraphic record on an inscription to be agreed upon with the teacher
Some of the readings required for the examination are available in PDF format on the course MyARIEL website.
Programme for 6 ECTS for non attending students
A-B
The knowledge of the following texts is required:
- M. Guarducci, L'epigrafia greca dalle origini al tardo impero, Roma, Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, 1987, pp. 10-80; 90-278; 313-320; 326-358; 418-442
- A. Inglese, A. Campus, Percorsi di ricerca in epigrafia greca, Rome: Edizioni Quasar, 2024, 13-112; 181-200
- A. Inglese (ed. by), Epigrammata 5. Dinamiche politiche ed istituzionali nell'epigrafia delle Cicladi, Tivoli, TORED 2020 (contributions by Constantakopoulou, Cordano, Camia, Foderà, Erdas, Inglese, Ceccarelli, Di Nicuolo, Lombardo).
- C. Antonetti, S. De Vido, Iscrizioni greche. Un'antologia, Roma, Carocci, 2017, inscriptions nos. 3; 11; 26; 37; 38
Some of the readings required for the examination are available in PDF format on the course MyARIEL website.
Non-attending students are strongly encouraged to get in touch with the teacher to better agree on the exam syllabus.
Programme for 9 ECTS for non attending students
A-B
The knowledge of the following texts is required:
- M. Guarducci, L'epigrafia greca dalle origini al tardo impero, Roma, Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, 1987, pp. 10-80; 90-278; 313-320; 326-358; 418-442
- A. Inglese, A. Campus, Percorsi di ricerca in epigrafia greca, Rome: Edizioni Quasar, 2024, 13-112; 181-200
- A. Inglese (ed. by), Epigrammata 5. Dinamiche politiche ed istituzionali nell'epigrafia delle Cicladi, Tivoli, TORED 2020 (contributions by Constantakopoulou, Cordano, Camia, Foderà, Erdas, Inglese, Ceccarelli, Di Nicuolo, Lombardo).
- C. Antonetti, S. De Vido, Iscrizioni greche. Un'antologia, Roma, Carocci, 2017, inscriptions nos. 3; 11; 26; 37; 38
C
- C. Constantakopoulou, The dance of the islands: insularity, networks, the Athenian empire, and the Aegean world, Oxford University Press, Oxford-New York 2007
- A.C. Cassio, Epica greca e scrittura tra VIII e VII sec. a.C.: madrepatria e colonie d'Occidente, in G. Bagnasco, F. Cordano (ed. by), Scritture mediterranee tra il IX e il VII secolo a.C. Atti del seminario (Milano, 23-24 febbraio 1998), Milano, Edizioni ET, 1998, pp. 67-84
Some of the readings required for the examination are available in PDF format on the course MyARIEL website.
Non-attending students are strongly encouraged to get in touch with the teacher to better agree on the exam syllabus.
International and Erasmus incoming students are invited to promptly get in touch with the professor in order to arrange a reading plan (available in English) for exam preparation.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam is oral and aims at ascertaining students'ability to read, interpret and set inscriptions in their historical context, and knowledge of the main epigraphic collections and digital tools for the study of Greek inscriptions on the basis of the materials and sources provided (and uploaded on the MyAriel platform) and of the books in the reading list. During the last lessons of the course attending students undertaking 9 cfu programme will prepare a short report containing critical edition and comment of an inscription to be agreed in time with the teacher, which will be evaluated together with the oral exam.
Assessment criteria are the following: ability to organize knowledge through discourse; critical reasoning skills with regard to the topics considered; ability to present topics and express oneself with the specialist language appropriate to the discipline.
Marks are out of 30. Minimum passing grade 18.
The format of the exam for students with disabilities should be arranged in advance with the professor, as well as the relevant office.
Assessment criteria are the following: ability to organize knowledge through discourse; critical reasoning skills with regard to the topics considered; ability to present topics and express oneself with the specialist language appropriate to the discipline.
Marks are out of 30. Minimum passing grade 18.
The format of the exam for students with disabilities should be arranged in advance with the professor, as well as the relevant office.
Modules or teaching units
Part a and B
STAN-01/A - Greek History - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Part C
STAN-01/A - Greek History - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)