SEMITIC PHILOLOGY

The course is part of the teaching activities that characterise the Master Degree in Ancient Civilisations: Literature, History and Archaeology (Archaeological curriculum). It aims at guiding the student to master the philological and methodological skills to develop independent research in the field of ancient Near Eastern history. The student will be required to practice them by writing a scientific article on a topic related to the course, assigned by the teacher.

The student at the end of the course will master the philological and methodological skills to develop independent research in the field of Semitic Philology and ancient Near Eastern history, practicing them by writing a piece of scientific research on a topic related to the course, assigned by the teacher.

It may be helpful to have some notions of the History of the Ancient Near East and at least a basic knowledge of one Semitic language.

This course is devoted to the epigraphic decumentation of Ugarit, a Late Bronze city on the Syrian coast flourished between the 14th and the 13th century BC. In particular, epic and religious texts will be examined in relationship with the previous and later literary tradition from Mesopotamia and in relationship with the Bible. Texts will be provided in translation. Students who already have a basic knowledge of Akkadiian and/or Ugaritic language will be given the opportunity to work on the originals.

Bibliography will be provided at the beginning of classes.

- notes and materials from the classes
- class discussion on selected topics
- written assignement

Presentation of the subject by the teacher and discussion in class. Handouts will be distributed to the students, concerning texts to be discussed.

Italian

written and oral