CLASSIC LITERATURES MOD. 1

The CLASSICAL LITERATURES course is one of the "Core educational activities" of the Archaeology curriculum of the Master's Degree in Ancient Civilizations: Archaeology, Literature and History. The course, divided into two modules (Module 1: Greek literature, Module 2: Latin literature), aims to provide students, regardless of their educational background and linguistic skills, an advanced level approach to the authors and texts of Greek and Latin literature according to a perspective specifically oriented to the needs and peculiarities of archaeological training.

The expected outcomes of this training activity are: a detailed knowledge of works and texts of the Greek and Latin literary tradition (read in Italian translation) and of their historical and interpretative issues, and the ability to make it interact both with the bases of classical literary culture previously acquired and with the general framework of knowledge (of a historical, methodological and technical nature) that pertain to the specificity of the master's level archaeological training; the ability to read and comment on the texts studied (both those covered during the course and those approached as personal reading) on ​​a historical, historical-literary and cultural level, and to argue autonomously about them in the light of the proposed interpretations and the bibliography indicated in support of the course or (in the case of personal readings) specifically suggested by the teachers.

Although a knowledge of Greek and Latin and their literature is recommended, it is not a prerequisite for taking the exam, and its lack does not affect the ability to fully understand the course topics, texts and bibliography. It is up to the students to fill any gaps in their historical and literary knowledge by following the bibliographical indications provided for this purpose (see below, Testi di riferimento).

PAUSANIAS AND THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF GREEK MEMORY IN THE IMPERIAL AGE

The course analyzes the figure of Pausanias not merely as a traveler, but as an 'archaeologist ante litteram'. Through the reading of selected passages from Books I, II, and IX, students will learn to compare textual narrative with material evidence, investigating how the monument serves as the guardian of historical and identity-based memory in Imperial-age Greece and how it is also embodied in 'intangible monuments' such as myths and historical traditions. The three books covered in the syllabus will allow for an in-depth exploration of the following topics:

- Book I: Pausanias' Athens between reality and symbol; reconstruction of the Pausanian itinerary through the Agora and the Acropolis; the celebration of Athens' glorious past under Roman rule.

- Book II: The rebirth of Corinth following its destruction by Rome.

- Book IX: Rural landscapes and extra-urban sanctuaries of Boeotia; the reflection of heroic genealogies in the architectural structures of Thebes; the interpretation of isolated sanctuaries and oral traditions linked to specific sites.

The course will not be limited to textual exegesis; rather, it aims to investigate the profound link between narrative and monumental reality, analyzing the myths that actively shaped the Greek landscape. The study will focus on the delicate balance between Pausanias' autoptic observation, the selectivity of his narrative, and the evidence brought to light by modern archaeological investigations. Participation in educational activities will foster a critical perspective aimed at connecting classical literature to material culture. Ultimately, the course intends to provide the methodological tools necessary to interpret the written source as an indispensable bridge between the monumental past and contemporary research. In this perspective, we will also make use of several recent digital tools, such as the Digital Periegesis website, which invites us to challenge "modern ways of viewing by relating places and objects as much through the stories that bind them as by their topographical proximity".

1) A selection of passages from Books I, II, and IX of the Description of Greece (Periegesis of Greece) by Pausanias (in translation with the original text facing), made available by the instructor on the course Moodle platform. The reference edition for each book is:

– D. Musti – L. Beschi, Pausania. Guida della Grecia, Libro I: l'Attica. Milano, Mondadori (Fondazione Lorenzo Valla), 1982.
– S. Rizzo, Pausania, Viaggio in Grecia: guida antiquaria e artistica, Libro primo: Attica e Megaride. Milano, Rizzoli (BUR), 1991.
– D. Musti – M. Torelli, Pausania. Guida della Grecia, Libro II: la Corinzia e l'Argolide. Milano, Mondadori (Fondazione Lorenzo Valla), 1986.
– M. Moggi – M. Osanna, Pausania. Guida della Grecia: 9, La Beozia. Milano, Mondadori (Fondazione Lorenzo Valla), 2010.

2) C. Habicht, Pausanias' guide to ancient Greece. Berkeley, University of California Press, 1985.

3) M. Pretzler, Travel writing in ancient Greece. Bristol, Duckworth, 2007.

4) S. E. Alcock, J. F. Cherry, J. Elsner (eds.) Pausanias: travel and memory in Roman Greece. Oxford, New York, Oxford University Press, 2001 (pp. 3-52, ossia i capp. 1-4).

5) D. R. Stewart "Most Worth Remembering: Pausanias, Analogy, and Classical Archaeology". Hesperia 82, no. 2 (2013): 231–261.

Assessment takes place through an individual oral interview during which the student must demonstrate that they can understand, historically contextualize and comment on a historical-literary level some of the texts covered during the course; they must also be able to argue with independent judgment and propriety of language on the accompanying bibliography and be able to use it as an aid in the interpretation of the texts and in their evaluation on a historical-literary level.

oral

The lecturer has a duty to ensure that the rules regarding the authenticity and originality of exam tests and papers are respected. Therefore, if there is suspicion of irregular conduct, an additional assessment may be conducted, which could differ from the original exam description.

In the exam interview, the following skills are assessed, in progressive order of importance: 1) the accuracy and completeness of the information, both in the commentary on individual texts and in their chronological, historical and historical-literary contextualization (from 0 to 25/30), 2) the propriety in the use of historical-literary categories and the related vocabulary (from 0 to 3/30), 3) the propriety and correctness of the presentation (from 0 to 2/30). Knowledge of Greek and reading of texts in the original language (the latter left to the free choice of the student) can also contribute to forming the aforementioned assessment.

Lectures will be primarily lecture-based, focusing on the reading and historical and literary-historical commentary of the texts covered in the course, as well as on the illustration of related critical issues. In the second part of the course, lectures will alternate with a number of seminar-style sessions, during which students will be asked to comment on selected passages from Pausanias that have been assigned in advance, in light of the archaeological bibliography provided beforehand by the instructor.

Regardless of the degree program, students who wish to keep open the possibility of entering the teaching profession should bear in mind that teaching Greek in secondary schools requires 24 CFU (university credits). If you intend to obtain these 24 CFU, it is advisable to include at least part of them in your bachelor’s program, in order to avoid having to use elective credits during your master’s degree or having to take additional individual exams after completing your studies.

The compatibility of your study plan (bachelor’s + master’s) with teaching requirements, as well as the other criteria established by current regulations, can be verified by consulting the “FOR TEACHERS” section on the following page: [https://www.unive.it/pag/9208/](https://www.unive.it/pag/9208/ )