OVERVIEW

Greek literature, which is still recognized for its extraordinary richness (in terms of variety, temporal extension and level of production) despite the enormous losses it has suffered in the course of its transmission, provides valuable information on the civilization that produced it and represents an important source of data and information in archaeological research. Learning the ancient Greek language gives access to it in its original version, as well as to ancient documentary finds.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide students with a basic knowledge of the morphology, lexicon, syntax of the ancient Greek language, as well as the ability to translate the simplest texts of ancient Greek literature and to follow the more complex ones on the original with the help of a translation into a modern language. The course also aims to provide knowledge of the genres and of the most relevant authors of Greek literature, of the main myths that underlie it, of the historical-social contexts in which it develops; finally it aims to the acquisition of the ability to describe and analyze the content and the meaning of an ancient Greek text and to contextualize it in the genre and era to which it belongs.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Participation in the activities and individual study will allow the student to:

– know genres, periodization and the most important authors of Greek literature;

– know the main myths underlying Greek literature;

– know the historical-cultural contexts of Greek literature;

– be able to use an appropriate vocabulary to describe the content and interpretative problems posed by texts of Greek literature;

– have a basic knowledge of the morphology, vocabulary and syntax of ancient Greek;

– be able to translate more simple texts of ancient Greek literature;

– be able to follow more complex texts of ancient Greek literature on the original with the help of a translation into modern language.

PREREQUISITES

Knowledge of the basic notions necessary for the morphosyntactic analysis of languages.

TEACHING METHODS

Part 1: lectures; Part 2: lectures and seminar-based lessons, with active contribution by the students, exercises and work in small groups. Students will also be assigned exercises for home study.

Part 1: lectures; Part 2: lectures and seminar-based lessons, with active contribution by the students, exercises and work in small groups. Students will also be assigned exercises for home study.

In consideration of the teaching methods, designed to respond to the need for gradual and continuous learning of the language, attendance at lessons is essential. Those who are unable to attend in person must contact the teacher at the beginning of the lessons semester, to agree on methods that make their participation in the teaching active, even remotely.

Students with disabilities or specific learning disorders can consult the guidelines for requesting services, compensatory tools and/or dispensatory measures and specific aids at the following link: https://unige.it/sites/unige.it/files/2024-05/Linee%20guida%20per%20la%20richiesta%20di%20servizi%2C%20di%20strumenti%20compensativi%20e_o%20di%20misure%20dispensative%20e%20di%20ausili%20specifici%20Maggio%202024.pdf

All the students are requested to register on the Aulaweb page of the teaching.

Students with disabilities or specific learning disorders can consult the guidelines for requesting services, compensatory tools and/or dispensatory measures and specific aids at the following link: https://unige.it/sites/unige.it/files/2024-05/Linee%20guida%20per%20la%20richiesta%20di%20servizi%2C%20di%20strumenti%20compensativi%20e_o%20di%20misure%20dispensative%20e%20di%20ausili%20specifici%20Maggio%202024.pdf

All the students are requested to register on the Aulaweb page of the teaching.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Part 1. Introduction to the Greek literary world:

– preservation and transmission of texts;

– periodization;

– genres and a selection of the main authors (Homer; Hesiod; Archilochus, Semonides, Hipponax; Tyrtaeus, Solon, Mimnermus, Theognis; Sappho, Alcaeus; Simonides, Pindar, Bacchylides; Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides; Aristophanes; Plato, Aristotle; Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon; Lysias, Isocrates, Demosthenes, Aeschines; Menander; Callimachus, Apollonius of Rhodes, Theocritus; Polybius; Plutarch; Lucian), with attention to the historical-cultural contexts and the mythological aspects. This part will be treated in class in general; students will find a full treatment of it in the handbook (see Recommended reading/Bibliography).

Part 2. Language and translation:

– basic notions of grammar (alphabet, phonology, morphosyntax) and vocabulary of ancient Greek;

– exercises on reading;

– exercises on the use of Greek-Italian vocabulary;

– translation of short passages on topics relevant to the study of archaeology or ancient art.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Part 1. Introduction to the Greek literary world:

one handbook of ancient Greek literature (general introduction; introductions to ages and genres; chapter/paragraphs related to the selection of authors indicated in the Contents: see above). The following are recommended:

– F. Montanari, F. Montana, Storia della letteratura greca. Dalle origini all’età imperiale, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2010

or

– A. Porro, W. Lapini, Letteratura greca, Bologna, Il Mulino 2017.

Part 2. Language and translation:

Students must have the following text available from the beginning of lessons:

– P. Agazzi - M. Vilardo, Hellenisti. Corso di lingua e cultura greca, quarta edizione. Zanichelli 2018 (one volume of theory, two volumes of exercises).

It is recommended, but not mandatory, to have a Greek-Italian dictionary (some copies will be made available by the teacher during the lessons and can be consulted in the library for individual study):

– F. Montanari (con la collab. di I. Garofalo e D. Manetti), GI. Vocabolario della lingua greca, Loescher, Torino 2025 (4th ed.) (or possibly previous editions, if already owned). Alternatively: L. Rocci, Vocabolario Greco-Italiano, Società Ed. Dante Alighieri, new ed. 2011 (or possibly previous editions, if already owned).

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Week of 22/09/25

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral exam. It is possible, but not mandatory, to split the exam into two separate interviews, one relating to Part 1 of the program, and the other relating to Part 2 of the program (see above, Syllabus/Content and Readings/Bibliography): in that case, the final mark will be determined by an average between the marks of the two tests, each of one must be sufficient; if the second test proves insufficient, the evaluation assigned to the first test will remain valid, in view of a future repetition of the missing part of the exam.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

To assess the level of acquisition of knowledge related to Part 1 of the program, candidates will be asked to discursively expose aspects related to the genres of ancient Greek literature and the authors in the program, with attention to the relevant historical-cultural contexts and the mythographic aspects involved. The ability of candidates to use an appropriate vocabulary to describe the contents and interpretative problems will also be assessed.

To assess the level of acquisition of knowledge and skills related to Part 2 of the program, candidates will be asked to:

–discursively answer questions on topics of phonology and morphology of Greek studied in this teaching

– analyze a series of forms of the Greek language

– read, analyze and translate the short passages covered in class.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Erasmus students not proficient in Italian can take the examination in English.

Ask the professor for other information not included in the teaching schedule.