OVERVIEW

When we deal with the great classics of Greek and Latin literature, we should ask ourselves how these texts have arrived down to us and how much what we now read faithfully represents the texts composed millennia ago. In order to read the classical literature with awareness, it is important to gain knowledge of the history of its tradition and the methods philologist have been using for trying to give texts that are as close as possible to the "original" ones.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The objective of this course is to convey the fundamental knowledge and philological skills necessary for the study of classical, Greek, and Latin texts, as well as an understanding of the problems associated with the history of the tradition that passed them down to us and the main theoretical and methodological aspects of criticism. The goal is to outline the paths of preservation and loss of classical texts from a historical perspective, taking into account not only cultural contexts but also the more properly material aspects and dynamics of the manuscript tradition, and to comprehend how to construct a critical text from what is returned from tradition.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aims are: to raise awareness on the issues relating to the traditio and the constitutio of the texts of ancient Greek and Latin literatures; to make students understand the main theoretical and methodological aspects of classical philology and ecdotic techniques; to make students know the history of classical philology in its broad lines; to provide students with the technical and methodological skills to deal with a critical edition.

At the end of the course the student is expect to have understood the main theoretical and methodological aspects of classical philology; to be aware of the issues relating to the reliability of ancient texts and their traditio; to know the terminology of textual criticism; to be able to use a critical edition and understand an apparatus criticus.

PREREQUISITES

A good knowledge of ancient Greek and Latin languages and literatures is required.

TEACHING METHODS

Combination of traditional lectures and classroom exercises of philological analysis on texts, with the direct involvement of students in reading of critical editions, confrontation of manuscripts, and analysis of variae lectiones.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

History of the tradition of Greek and Latin texts: the dynamics of the handwritten tradition, the book forms, sources and contexts of transmission.

Textual criticism: the notions of recensio, stemma codicum, archetype, significant error, emendatio; the so-called Lachmann’s method and its limits; how is a critical edition made and how to read a critical apparatus.

Outlines of the history of classical philology.

The theoretical part is complemented by practical exercises of analysis on texts.

Non-attending students are required to contact the teachers.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Recommended handbook:

• Tommaso Braccini, La scienza dei testi antichi. Introduzione alla filologia classica, Milano, Mondadori 2017.

Reading of:

• Chapter: Recentiores, non deteriores. Collazioni umanistiche ed editiones principes, in Giorgio Pasquali, Storia della tradizione e critica del testo, 2a ed., Firenze 1952 (and reprints).

Further materials will be made available in class and on AulaWeb.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

February 2026

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam is an oral interview to assess the acquisition of the theoretical and methodological aspects of textual criticism, the awareness of the history of the tradition of Greek and Latin literatures, and the ability to address the critical reading of given literary texts (made available via Aulaweb)

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam consists of an interview about the theoretical and methodological aspects of the discipline and the ability to apply them to the critical reading of given literary texts. Clarity and correct use of technical terminology are assessed. In order to reach the basic threshold students should demonstrate their knowledge of the history of tradition of Greek and Latin literatures, at least in its broad lines, and the knowledge of the main notions of stemmatic theory and ecdotic methods In order to reach an assessment of excellence, students should demonstrate their ability to apply the acquired knowledge to the philological analysis of calssical texts, and practical skills in reading a critical edition and its apparatus.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Erasmus students not proficient in Italian may request a substitutive bibliography, and take the examination in English.

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