54
Clasical Philology
UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI NAPOLI "L'ORIENTALE"
Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
The course aims to provide the necessary tools to approach the reading and comprehension of basic-level texts in Ancient Greek and Latin, as well as introductory knowledge of Greek and Roman civilisations (institutions, religion, mythology). Within the AM degree programme, even an elementary knowledge of Greek and Latin is an essential learning objective for students who have chosen to structure their study plan with a focus on the ancient cultures of the Mediterranean.
ABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
By the end of the course, the student will be expected to demonstrate a sound knowledge and command of the basic morphology and syntax of Ancient Greek and Latin, as well as the ability to apply these skills in previously unfamiliar contexts.The students should therefore be able to read, translate, and independently understand simple Greek and Latin texts, in order to extract information relevant to research. Building on the knowledge acquired, the student will also be expected to demonstrate the ability to connect different areas of knowledge, with the aim of forming independent judgements based on the data collected in interdisciplinary contexts (for example, in the interaction between archaeology and philology).
FURTHER EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Independent judgement: The student should be able to select and interpret data in order to form independent judgements, including reflection on socio-cultural and anthropological issues related to language study.
- Communication skills: The student should be able to communicate clearly and effectively, using appropriate terminology and adjusting their communication according to the audience and context.
- Learning skills: The student should be able to apply their knowledge and understanding with a view to the ongoing and increasingly autonomous acquisition of knowledge. This should enable them to broaden their cultural horizons and develop the skills needed both to formulate and support arguments and to solve problems within their field of study.
Course Prerequisites
A basic knowledge of Italian morphology and syntax (at a level equivalent to the completion of upper secondary school) is an important prerequisite for engaging with the course content. A knowledge of the basic morphology and syntax of Ancient Greek and Latin—while not essential—is also beneficial. Such knowledge may have been acquired during upper secondary education or through attendance of the Greek and Latin language workshops offered within the degree programme.
Teaching Methods
The course hours will be divided between lectures (two-thirds approx. of the course) and practical exercises (one-third approx. of the course). Greek and Latin languages and cultures will be explored from a comparative perspective, through a mixed lecture/workshop format, with constant attention to their historical development and their contributions to the vocabulary of modern languages and to Western civilisation. Reading a selection of Greek and Latin texts in translation will provide essential support for the themes of classical culture dealt with during the course. Students will also be invited to write and give an oral presentation of a short written paper on a topic of their choice, selected from among those covered in the course. Non-assessed intermediate tests may be offered during the course, designed to provide feedback on students’ learning progress.
Assessment Methods
Final Examination
Achievement of the expected learning outcomes will be assessed through an oral examination in Italian or English (for international students). Students will have the opportunity, at the start of the exam, to present and discuss a short written paper on a topic of their choice related to Greek and Roman cultures, to be prepared according to guidelines provided during the course. The examination consists of two parts (which may be taken in either order): 1. A reading and translation test involving two short elementary-level texts, one in Greek and one in Latin; 2. An oral interview designed to assess knowledge and skills relating to the languages and cultures covered in the course, focusing on Greek and Roman mythology.
Final Assessment
The final mark, expressed on a scale of thirty points (with honours possibly awarded), aims to evaluate the student’s acquisition of the knowledge and skills outlined in the learning objectives. The assessment will take into account the following criteria: completeness of information, coherence, lexical accuracy, and the ability to apply the knowledge acquired.
Texts
Language
A. Recommended manuals
(n.b. Students will use as reference manuals for the linguistic part the texts 1 and 2 listed. The parts indicated in brackets constitute the compulsory examination programme).
1. M. Fucecchi-L.Graverini, The Latin language. Fundamentals of morphology and syntax. Second edition. Le Monnier Università, Florence 2016 (Sections 1 to 16; 21, 22).
2. A. Vanacore, Ta Hellenikà. Greek language and culture course. Simone per la scuola, Naples 2019 (Introduction, Sections 1 to 14).
B. Recommended Lexica
1. Greco: R. Romizi, Vocabolario greco-italiano etimologico e ragionato, Zanichelli, Bologna 2007 (o edd. succ.).
2. Latino: V. Raimondi, M. G. Iaccarino, E. Mazzotti, Dizionario latino compatto, Società Editrice Dante Alighieri, 2007 (o edd. succ.).
Greek and Latin cultures
1. B. Santorelli, Introduzione alla mitologia classica. Firenze: Le Monnier Università, 2024.
Additional material (Powerpoint slides, sitography, photocopied texts) will be provided in handouts by the lecturer during the course. Those parts of the textbooks and essays that require special attention will also be pointed out during the course.
Contents
COURSE TITLE: From language to culture, from culture to language: classical mythology
LIST OF TOPICS
1. Historical development of Greek and Latin;
2. Alphabet, phonetics and morphology of the Greek and Latin languages;
3. Lexical heritage common to the two languages, with elements of culture and
civilisation;
4. The declension in Greek and Latin;
5. Adjectives and pronouns;
6. Verbal inflection;
7. The indeclinables
Course Language
Italian
More information
The course does not offer a separate programme for students who do not attend classes. However, students who do not attend classes are encouraged to contact the lecturer in order to discuss possible adjustments to the programme in line with their individual study path.