LATIN EPIGRAPHY

The course counts among those related to the historical method and source research area; it aims at providing students with a basic methodology in order to properly understand written communication in the Roman world - both private and public -, and to master the correct reading techniques required by each type of documents
Course aims:
- to develop a critical approach to the language used in different communication performances
- to provide a basic methodology for the historical analysis of epigraphic documents by enucleating all their information elements.
Special attention is devoted to the essential notions concerning reading techniques of the different types of written sources, and to the reconstruction of their relevant communication contexts.
By reaching such aims, the student is expected to master the essentials in order to understand, and decode a category of documents (inscriptions) which proves to be fundamental for the knowledge of the ancient world and for the possible further study of Latin epigraphy at MA level.

1. Knowledge and understanding of
- the epistemological foundations of the discipline
- the main lemmas of the epigraphic vocabulary and reading techniques of the sources
- the types of epigraphic media
- methods of edition of epigraphic documents, including digital editions;
2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
- determine the ‘epigraphic situation’
- ability to properly analyse the different aspects of an inscribed text by applying the appropriate categories adopted in the vocabulary of the discipline
- ability to use the basic tools needed to cataloguing, promoting and disseminating epigraphic documents and go from taxonomy and quality of written media to the aims and quality of the communication process
- ability to apply critical analysis and exegetical rigour upon textual, contextual and metatextual understanding, i.e. to draw any potentially useful information from a given text
3. evaluation abilities
- ability to elaborate and discuss hypotheses of textual integration, understanding and chronology, even by means of a critical approach to evaluating alternative hypotheses
4. communication abilities
- ability to critically communicate contents and reflections concerning the document examined
- ability to effectively interact with the teacher, classmates and tutor on specific themes

- knowledge of the basics of Roman history, which are supposed to be learnt by attending BA classes as scheduled within the relevant degree course implied
- basic knowledge of the Latin language, which may be learnt also by attending language classes activated within the relevant degree course implied

Course title: Public and private writing in ancient Rome
Course contents: the course will focus:
- the birth and development of the epigraphic studies
- the beginnings of writing in Rome and alphabetization levels in the ancient world
- different forms and functions of writing (sacred, public, honorary, funerary, utilitarian)
- textual edition criteria and their evolution up to current digital editions
Course attendance is highly recommended due to the technical character of the course. Any students who do not wish to attend are invited to prepare the exam according to a specific programme (indicated below)

Programme for students attending the course:
- notes taken during class sessions (All literature will be provided in pdf format by the course instructor in his online teaching materials uploaded on the Moodle e-learning site, together with exercises and learning tests)
Referral texts:
Mandatory handbook: A. BUONOPANE, Manuale di epigrafia latina, Roma, Carocci, 2020
Optional further readings:
- I. DI STEFANO MANZELLA, Mestiere di epigrafista, Roma, Quasar, 1988
- S.GIORCELLI BERSANI, Epigrafia e storia di Roma, Roma, Carocci, 2015
Programme for students who will NOT attend the course:
Mandatory handbook:
- A. BUONOPANE, Manuale di epigrafia latina, Roma, Carocci, 2020
Optional further readings:
- I. DI STEFANO MANZELLA, Mestiere di epigrafista, Roma, Quasar, 1988
- AKEO. I tempi della scrittura: Veneti antichi. Alfabeti e documenti, Cornuda (TV), Tipoteca Italiana, 2000
- S.GIORCELLI BERSANI, Epigrafia e storia di Roma, Roma, Carocci, 2015

Examination of the learning level is exclusively in written form, and aims to verify the abilities acquired by students.
The written exam consists of seven essay questions referred to the topics developed during the course and in the textbook. Specifically, the questions deal with:
1) The introduction of writing in Italy, the degree of alphabetization and the ways of learning to write;
2) The definition of the characters of writing and the analysis of an inscription from the palaeographic point of view;
3) The analysis of eight different onomastic forms;
4) The identification of a dozen different materials where the inscriptions were inscribed;
5) The analysis of a specific typology of inscription and its formulary specificity;
6) The brief description of an epigraphic document mentioned in the textbook;
7) The critical edition of an epigraphic document.
Each answer will be judged according to a scale of thirty points, and the final mark is the result of the average of the points earned for each answer.
A facsimile of a written test as given in previous exam sessions will be uploaded on the course Moodle e-learning platform

Regular class sessions. Teaching materials will be provided in pdf format by the instructor on the course Moodle

Italian

Students who attend this course will be entitled to take part to the seminar activities, stages and training courses organised by the Roman History and Classics faculty during the two terms. The calendar of activities will be provided in class and on the Department of Humanities website.
Students who attend two courses of Roman History and/or Latin Epigraphy will also be entitled to participate to a three-day fieldtrip to Rome, which will presumably take place in late Spring 2026.

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development