GREEK LITERATURE II

FREEDOM OF SPEECH. MYTHICAL ARCHETYPES. ACHILLES, PROMETHEUS, CASSANDRA, PRAXAGORA
The course is intended as a development and deepening of the Course of Greek Literature I and prepares the courses of the specialist degree. Freedom of speech, which from the 5th century will be a fundamental word for democracy, has its archetypes in myth and poetry (Hesiod, Homer, Aeschylus, Aristophanes, Plato, Lucian, etc.).
Linguistic and literary analysis of Greek literary texts in verse and prose. In-depth study of grammatical, linguistic and literary skills. Complete reading and knowledge in the original language of significant texts of Greek literature. The issues, functions and perspectives of myth between epic, lyric and classical theatre. Outlines of the History of Greek Literature of the Classical Age.

The course aims to train specific skills in the field of Greek literature, starting from the archaic and classical ages, with the ability to evaluate the peculiar characteristics of orality, aurality and cultural functions within the society of democracy and the polis between the archaic and classical ages with developments between Hellenism and the imperial age.
In relation to the themes of parrhesia (freedom of speech), the course aims to create a path through all Greek literature, with projections into modern literatures and applications of the skills and theoretical knowledge acquired.

The course is open to all students who have a basic knowledge of the Greek language.
For a good result in the use of the course, it is recommended to attend the ONLINE METRICS LESSONS on Moodle (with useful materials) as preparation and in person the ALETHEIA LABORATORIES and the GREEK LITERATURE SEMINARS that are held in conjunction with the courses to form adequate skills on metrics and on the problems of interpretation and translation of ancient texts.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH
The course offers a broad investigation into the theme of freedom of speech and its meanings in ancient Greece, through the analysis of a series of texts in the original language, starting from the testimonies of archaic epics, with Hesiod for the parrhesia of Prometheus and Homer for Achilles and Thersites. At the center of the investigation is the representation of theater from classical Athens with the "Prometheus Bound" attributed to Aeschylus and the Ecclesiazusae of Aristophanes for the freedom of speech of women. Further developments of the myths will be examined between the "Protagoras" of Plato, and also the "Prometheus", the "Dialogues of the Gods", the "Dialogues of the Dead" by Lucian of Samosata. With a notable late-ancient projection for the parrhesia of Cassandra, a prophetic voice of truth that could save the city of Troy. Alongside the analysis of the texts, an evaluation of the iconography of the myth is also proposed.
In relation to the texts, questions of language, metrics, and literary theory are addressed. In-depth studies are planned on the motifs of myth and their function in the societies of the ancient world. A specific development will take into consideration the modern developments of myth and the critical word applied to our world.

Always in the spirit of the experiment, around freedom of speech, after some introductory rules (not without a Menippean inspiration), let's take up the mythical thoughts, let's try to see what they tell us. Myths have a special power. We discover quite a few things that we didn't expect. We had never seen them before. Achilles' parrhesia opens the Iliad in the face of the obtuseness of Agamemnon's power, Prometheus' challenge is in action against those who are too much stronger than him, Kronos' licentia, which, however, after the Golden Age exists exclusively in the limited-time utopia of the Saturnalia. Of course, we can also participate in the party. There is of course Cassandra, a symbol: a young woman, a prophetess, the different voice that could save the city of Troy. On the edge of the abyss, the people do not know how to listen, do not want to believe in the truth. The responsibility is everyone's. Finally, outside the myth but within the fantastic and impossible world of comedy, there will be the invention of the parrhesia of Praxagora: it is the free speech of women in parliament, almost two thousand five hundred years before we in Italy granted them the right to vote.

GREEK TEXTS
Homer, Iliad 1.1-305
Homer, Odyssey 11.467-540
Homer, Iliad 2.211-277
Hesiod, Works and Days 1-251).
Hesiod, Theogony 507-616
Aeschylus, Prometheus (an anthology)
Plato, Protagoras 320d-323a
Lucian of Samosata, Prometheus
Lucian of Samosata, Prometheus es in verbis
Lucian of Samosata, Dialogues of the Gods 5 (1)
Aristophanes, Ecclesiazousae 1-310
Quintus Smyrnaeus, Posthomerica 12.500-585

Edition with commentary:
Aeschylus, Prometheus Bound, ed. by M. Griffith, Cambridge 1983.
Aristofane, Le donne all'assemblea, a c. di M. Vetta, Milano 1989.
The other Greek texts will be provided by the teacher (Moodle)

BIBLIOGRAPHY
A. Camerotto, Libertà di parola. Archetipi mitici, Paradoxa n. 4., De Bastiani Editore, Vittorio Veneto 2025.
A. Camerotto, L'errore di Prometeo, in A. Camerotto, F. Pontani (edd.), Abbracciare Dafne. L'uomo e la natura tra Omero e il futuro prossimo, Milano-Udine 2023, 193-220.
F. Condello, «Molte migliaia d'anni io soffrirò»: l'infinita fortuna di Prometeo, in F. Condello, Prometeo. Variazioni sul mito. Eschilo, Goethe, Shelley, Gide, Pavese, Venezia 2011, 7-78
R. Viccei, Fuoco e fango. Il mito di Prometeo
nella documentazione archeologica greca e romana, Aevum Antiquum 12-13, 2012-2013, 217-272

A working bibliography will be supplied during the class.

Outlines of the history of Greek literature of the Classical Age:
A. RODIGHIERO, Civiltà letteraria della Grecia antica, L'Età Classica, pp. 99ff.
For metrics, TEACHING SHEETS and ONLINE METRICS LESSONS are available. For further information see M.C. Martinelli, Gli strumenti del poeta. Elementi di metrica greca, Bologna 1995 (Cappelli).

The examination is an oral test and consists of the reading, translation and commentary of the greek texts. It includes a discussion of a subject from the history of Greek Literature.

oral

The evaluation, from 0 to 30/30 cum Laude corresponds to the solidity of the preparation based on the following criteria:
1. linguistic knowledge of the texts.
2. metrical reading of poetic texts (hexameter, trimeter, etc.) and ability to analyze and explain the rhythmic-semantic structures.
3. knowledge and scientific discussion of the texts in the program.
4. knowledge and scientific discussion of the course topics.
5. notions of literary history.
6. knowledge and discussion of the studies in the program.
7. iconographic competence and knowledge.

For a reflection on the meanings of the course skills and knowledge see M. BETTINI, A che cosa servono i Greci e i Romani?, Torino 2017, A. CAMEROTTO, Heracles and the Monkey. Paideia and Money in Lucian of Samosata, Mnemosyne 75, 2022, 113-144.

Conventional. Metrical reading and interpretation of the text.
It is required a regular attendance at the lectures.

EXERCISES AND WORKSHOPS IN GREEK LITERATURE
In preparation for and alongside the Greek Literature courses, GREEK LITERATURE SEMINARS are held.
Knowledge of the hexameter and iambic trimeter is required for the Greek Metric. ONLINE EXERCISES are being prepared to support Greek Literature courses with classroom verification.
Students are invited to attend the Seminars and Exercises for adequate preparation for the Greek courses and for in-depth study of the topics covered.

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "International cooperation" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development