The course of Archaeology of the Aegean Scripts takes into consideration the scripts documented in the Aegean Bronze Age (Cretan Hieroglyphic, Linear A, Linear B), in the frame of the contemporary archaeological data. The characteristics of the known documents are examined, paying particular attention to their context of discovery. The corpora used for the different scripts are presented and some texts in Linear B are read and commented.
The course aims to provide students with an overview of the knowledge of the scripts used in the Aegean in the 2nd millennium BC. (Cretan hieroglyph, Linear A, Linear B), within the archaeological evidence of the period. At the end of the course the student is expected to have acquired notions on the use of writing in the Aegean of the second millennium BC, to be able to distinguish the different types of written documents, to have developed a basic knowledge of their contexts of discovery; he is expected to be able to read and interpret simple Linear B texts presented during the lessons.
The teaching course aims to provide students with an overview of the knowledge of the scripts used during the Bronze Age in the Aegean (Cretan, Linear A, Linear B hieroglyphics), in the context of contemporary archaeological evidence, which allows them to understand periods and diffusion areas of each writing. At the end of the course the student is expected to have acquired notions on the uses of writing in the Aegean of the 2nd millennium BC, to be able to distinguish the different types of written documents, to have developed a basic knowledge of their contexts of discovery; it is also expected that the student will be able to read and understand simple Linear B texts presented during the lessons.
No prerequisites are required
The course includes 40 hours of frontal lessons held by the teacher, during which, with the aid of PowerPoint presentations, the topics indicated in the program will be treated.
History of studies: from the research of the "pre-alphabetic" scripts of the Aegean to the deciphering of Linear B. Palatial civilizations of the Aegean: chronological definition and main archaeological data. The Cretan hieroglyphics: typology, chronology and diffusion of documents; corpus and main reference publications. Linear A: typology, chronology and diffusion of documents; corpus and main reference publications. Phaistos disc: characteristics and history. Linear B: typology, chronology and diffusion of documents; corpora and main reference publications; reading and commenting on some texts.
The program is the same for non-attending students
L. Godart, Da Minosse a Omero. Genesi della prima civiltà europea, Torino, Einaudi, 2020; Manuale di epigrafia micenea. Introduzione allo studio dei testi in lineare B, a cura di M. Del Freo e M. Perna, volume 1, Padova, libreriauniverisitaria,it, 2016, pp. 63-208
Ricevimento: To arrange a meeting, please send a message to nicola.cucuzza@lettere.unige.it
NICOLA CUCUZZA (President)
MARTA PESTARINO
FABIO NEGRINO (Substitute)
PAOLO PERSANO (Substitute)
22nd February 2024
The exam is held in oral form, on topics concerning the course program.
The exam aims to verify the student's knowledge of the main archaeological data of the palatial civilizations of the Aegean; the student's ability to recognize the characteristics of documents written in Cretan Hieroglyphic, Linear A and Linear B and the ability to understand a short text in Linear B is also assessed.
An element of evualation will also be the expressive abilities and the correct ownership of language.
Copy of Power Point presentations and basic texts will be made available on Aulaweb.
