ASSYRIOLOGY

The course is part of the ancillary disciplines that make up the curriculum on Ancient and Medieval Mediterranean History of the BA Programme in History, the curriculum in Antiquity of the BA Programme in the Humanities, the curriculum in Archaeology of the BA Programme in Conservation of Cultural Heritage and Performing Arts Management, but open to students of any BA. It aims at providing students with a basic knowledge of the discipline and its methodology, of the writing system, language and grammar of Akkadian, in order to allow them to read from the original and understand simple texts, from the point of view of their historical context and grammar . Depending on the degree of personal engagement, by the end of the course, students will be enabled to get the basics of the phonology, morphology and sintax of the Old-Babylonian (OB) language, and will be able to read and translate simple texts directly from cuneiform. In addition they will have gained the ability to decode and contextualize the sources from an historical, ideological and literary perspective and will be able to use the main bibliographic tools for the discipline.

At the end of the course students:
- will have gained a basic knowledge of the cuneiform writing system and its principles
- will have gained a basic knowledge of the grammar of OB Akkadian (phonology, morphology and syntax)
- and will be able to apply such knowledge to the translation and analysis of simple texts in cuneiform on their own and in a group
- will be able to use the appropriate tools and resources for the discipline

No prerequisite is necessary to access this course.

Introduction to Akkadian & cuneiform writing

1) Introduction to the Akkadian grammar: phonology, morphology and syntax.
2) Introduction to the cuneiform script.
3) Exercises and lab sessions.

A) Introduction:
I. Finkel - J. Taylor, Cuneiform, London 2015
J. Taylor, 'Tablets as artefacts, scribes as artisans', in K. Radner- E. Robson (eds.), Oxford Handbook of Cuneiform Culture, Oxford 2011, pp. 5-31.
B) Handbook:
R. Caplice, Introduction to Akkadian, Roma 1988
C) Materials/notes from classes

Tools:
Sign lists:
Fl.Malbran Labat, Manuel d'epigraphie akkadienne: signes, syllabaire, ideogrammes, 6 ed. o succ.,Paris 1988 or
R. Borger, Assyrisch-Babylonische Zeichenliste, Neukirchen-Vluyn 1978

Dictionaries:
The Assyrian Dictionary of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago (CAD; disponibile gratuitamente in pdf al seguente indirizzo: https://isac.uchicago.edu/research/publications/chicago-assyrian-dictionary )
J. Black, A. George, N. Postgate, A Concise Dictionary of Akkadian, Wiesbaden 2000 (2nd ed).

Further readings:
- J. Huehnergard, A Grammar of Akkadian, Atlanta 1997 (= Winona Lake, 2000).

Other:
F. D'Agostino, M.S. Cingolo, G. Spada, La lingua di Babilonia, Milano 2016

Learning abilities will be assessed by means of a final exam that will consist of a written test including:
a) questions on the assigned readings (1 secton, 2 questions total)
b) grammar: theory (3 questions, one articulated in different parts) and esercises on the verb (10 verbal forms to be analysed) and noun (10 forms): overall, 3 sections, each in thirties. Students who will not get at least 18/30 in the verb and noun sections will not qualify for passing the exam.
c) reading, tranliteration, transcription and translation of simple texts from cuneiform.class discussion

written

Each section will be assessed in thirties. Students who will not get at least 18/30 in the verbs and nouns sections will not qualify for passing the exam.

A mixture of lectures and seminars (homework+ discussion in class).

Students will be required to do their own homework on a regular basis. Homework will be corrected and discussed in class.
A tutor willavailable to assist students every Thursday during the classes-period. Check Moodle for more details.

Italian

Students interested in Assyriology are advised to consider attending also the classes on Sumero-Akkadian Epigraphy.