OVERVIEW

The course aims to provide the student with an introduction in general terms to the contents of the discipline and a series of hermeneutical tools related to the History of religions as an independent object of critical reflection. The field of investigation will be delimited by the horizon of ancient polytheisms, in particular the Greek and Latin ones. A second part, more thematic, will illuminate, through the analysis of sources, the relationship between traditional Roman religion, power and politics and foreign cults, with particular reference to the controversial relationship with Judaism and Christianity.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The student will be guided to the knowledge of the problems of the religions of the classical world and to an overall reconstruction of the study methodologies related to them, providing him with the conceptual categories and the essential ancient and modern vocabulary of religious research.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to:

1. offer the methodologies and hermeneutical keys to orient in the history of religions and to fully understand the European academic debate which, starting from the end of the nineteenth century, led to the identification of a new disciplinary sector and new tools for historical investigation;
2. present the contemporary research in the study of classical religions;
3. provide the conceptual categories and the essential ancient and modern lexicon of religious research;
4. include the study of ancient religions in the range of all disciplines involved, from philology to history, archeology, to possible intersections with sociology and historical psychology;
5. present and discuss the specificity of the Roman religion, in the light of the comparison with the Greek religion;
6. lead the student to the study and interpretation of some emblematic cases of religious problems in the ancient historical space.

TEACHING METHODS

Lessons will be held in presence. Attendance, although not compulsory, is recommended. Only those who attend lessons in presence will be deemed attending students. The teacher, upon specific request by single students, could allow them to access the recordings of the lessons via Teams at the end of the teaching.

Those who request lessons are considered not attending-students, therefore they are asked to contact the teacher in order to arrange a different program.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course offers a preliminary methodological introduction to the History of religions with particular reference to the religions of the classical world. Subsequently it will focus on a presentation of the foundations of the Roman and Greek religion . The religious phenomenon will be framed in the anthropological, civil, political context typical of ancient religions.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

- A. Brelich, «Prolegomeni a una Storia delle religioni», in H.C. Puech (ed.), Storia delle religioni. L'Oriente e l'Europa nell'antichità, Laterza, Roma-Bari, vol. I, pp. 1-55 (the essay will be provided by the teacher).

- G. De Sanctis, La religione a Roma: luoghi, culti, sacerdoti, dèi, Carocci, Roma 2012. 

- A. Brelich, I Greci e gli dei, Liguori, Napoli 1985.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ELISABETTA COLAGROSSI (President)

FRANCESCO CAMERA

ROBERTO CELADA BALLANTI (Substitute)

EDOARDO SIMONOTTI (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

February 23, 2023

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral exam.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral exam will evaluate the following skills : quality, mastery and safety of exposure; specific knowledge of the subject; reasoning skills, logical connections and use of specialist vocabulary; reading, analysis and understanding of texts.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Attendance at lessons is highly recommended. Non-attending students are requested to contact the teacher.