MEDIEVAL EPIGRAPHY

Academic year
2025/2026 Syllabus of previous years
Official course title
EPIGRAFIA MEDIEVALE
Course code
FT0064 (AF:447829 AR:328536)
Teaching language
Italian
Modality
On campus classes
ECTS credits
6
Degree level
Bachelor's Degree Programme
Academic Discipline
L-ANT/08
Period
2nd Term
Course year
3
Where
VENEZIA
Moodle
Go to Moodle page
The course is part of the degree course in History and aims to provide students with the first methodological tools in the field of epigraphy from the late ancient age until the sixteenth century.
The teaching objectives are: to develop the ability to reflect on written forms, on the state of preservation of epigraphic materials, on the forms of transmission of epigraphic texts; to provide the main tools for transcriptions and critical editions of epigraphic texts; to provide the basic methodological tools for the palaeographic and epigraphic analysis of medieval writings.
The achievement of these objectives allows the student to have the basis for learning the main medieval epigraphic writings; tools for critical analysis and evaluation of artifacts, as well as the hanging of the main critical tools for the editions of epigraphic texts.

Knowledge and understanding

can critically use the main tools for the epigraphic analysis of medieval artefacts bearing epigraphic texts, whatever the material support;
can use the basic tools necessary for the cataloguing, critical and analytical study of the main medieval epigraphic writings and artefacts in their material aspect; can complete a critical edition of epigraphic texts with the probmies connected to it.
knows the different types of sources useful for the historical reconstruction of the writer contexts that produced the medieval graphic typologies and is able to interweave them in a deep and effective way.
In the field of teaching, activities are planned to start the study of medieval epigraphy with the active and verifiable participation of students.

no prerequisites are required
recognition of the main categories of epigraphic artefacts; classification of epigraphic supports; type and class of epigraphic supports; processing techniques and chronology of the techniques used to process the artefacts; state of preservation and main categories of damage; causes of material damage to the epigraphic support; techniques for processing epigraphic writings; layout systems distributed by supports; types of writings from the II century d.C. to the XVI century; state of conservation of the writings and main problems linked to the state of conservation of the texts; criteria for transcription and editing of epigraphic texts.

materials for the exercises and manuals are present in Moodle; there are commented powerpoints and materials for the exercises.
Bibliography for the exam:

I. DI STEFANO MANZELLA, Mestiere di epigrafista. Guida alla schedatura del materiale epigrafico lapideo,Roma 1987 (Vetera 1): capp. 6.1-6.3 (pp. 41-3); 7 (pp. 49-68); 8 (pp.69-73); 9.1-9.3.5 (pp. 75-82); 11 (pp. 117-120); 12.5-12.8 (pp.126-134); 13.1-13.7.5 (pp. 135-151); 15.1-15.2 (pp. 169-171); 16.6 (pp.182-3); 19 (pp. 209-219).
A. PETRUCCI, Breve storia della scrittura latina, Roma 1992 (nuova edizione riveduta e aggiornata): pp. 17-136.

Eventuali letture di approfondimento:

A. Petrucci, La scrittura. Ideologia e rappresentazione, Torino, 1986 (Piccola Biblioteca Einaudi, 473).
A. Petrucci, Le scritture ultime. Ideologia della morte e strategie dello scrivere nella tradizione occidentale, Torino, 1995 (Saggi, 798).
Grading, with a score assigned based on the presence of the following knowledge/skills/abilities:
- Range 18-22: sufficient knowledge of the content; sufficient ability to recognise classes of materials; sufficient ability to interpret graphical forms; sufficient
communication skills in relation to the use of specific language.
- Range 23-26: fair knowledge of the content; fair ability to recognise materials; fair ability to interpret and connect events; fair communication skills in relation to the use of specific language.
- Range 27-29: good/very good knowledge of content; good/very good ability to recognise materials; good/very good ability to interpret and connect events; good/very good communication skills in relation to the use of specific language.
- 30: excellent knowledge of content; excellent ability to recognise classes of materials; excellent ability to interpret and connect events; excellent communication skills in relation to the use of specific language.
- 30 with honours: excellent knowledge of content; excellent ability to recognise classes of materials; excellent ability to interpret and connect events; excellent communication skills.
oral
The texts / materials examined and discussed, with any supporting tools, are provided by the lecturer during the course and made available to all on the Moodle platform. These texts/materials are an integral part of the programme of the examination. The examination ranges from a minimum of 18/30 for a cursory knowledge of medieval epigraphy to a maximum of 30/30 for a thorough knowledge of the discipline.

classroom lessons; classroom exercises; reading, dating and localization exercises using facsimiles. The course also includes visits to the main epigraphic collections in the area
Ca’ Foscari applica la Legge Italiana (Legge 17/1999; Legge 170/2010) per i servizi di supporto e di accomodamento disponibili agli studenti con disabilità o con disturbi specifici dell’apprendimento. Se hai una disabilità motoria, visiva, dell’udito o altre disabilità (Legge 17/1999) o un disturbo specifico dell’apprendimento (Legge 170/2010) e richiedi supporto (assistenza in aula, ausili tecnologici per lo svolgimento di esami o esami individualizzati, materiale in formato accessibile, recupero appunti, tutorato specialistico a supporto dello studio, interpreti o altro) contatta l’ufficio Disabilità e DSA disabilita@unive.it.

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Definitive programme.
Last update of the programme: 16/07/2025