SEMITIC PHILOLOGY

The course is part of the MA in Ancient Civilisations: Literature, History and Archaeology (esp. Archeaology) and aims at devloping the student's abilities in the field of the philology and linguistics of the ancient world, with a focus on the Semitic languages of the Near East, introducing them to scientific research.
Students will be introduced to reading and translating sources written in the Semitic languages, placing them in their historical and literary context, which will also contribute to improve their problem-solving skills. They will improve their abilities in the philological, linguistic and literary treatment of the sources, learning how to use the right methodological tools and instruments for the discipline (also electronic resources and tools for the bibliographical research and data-bases for the discipline); and will be asked to apply them to the production of the edition of the texts that are dealt with in class.

The student by the end of the course
- will be able to use the right tools and methodologies for the linguistic, philological, historical and literary analysis in the discipline;
- will know how to make independently a bibliographic research in the field and will know how to take advantage of the electronic resources for the discipline available to date;
- will be able to produce an independent edition of a text.

No prerequisites required to access this course.
Previous knowledge of at least one Semitic language may be an advantage, as well as a basic knowledge of Assyriology, Sumero-Akaddian Epigraphy. Basic knowledge of the History of the Ancient Near East while not required may be a plus.

Title: "Introduction to Ancient South Arabian"

1) Language and writing
2) The Semitic context
3) Writing and Epigraphy
4) Basics of Sabean
5) Reading of selected texts
6) Digital epigraphy

1) A. Avanzini, By Land and by Sea. A History of South Arabia before Islam Recounted from Inscriptions (Arabia Antica 10). Roma, 2016 (selection)
2) P. Stein, “Literacy in pre-Islamic Arabia. An analysis of the epigraphic evidence”. In Neuwirt et al (ed.), The Qur’an in context, Leiden-Boston: pp. 255-280.
3) P. Stein, "Ancient South Arabian", in R. Hasselbach-Andee, A Companion to Ancient Near Eastern Languages, First Edition, Hoboken 2020: pp. 337-353.
4) Notes from classes
5) Additional references, sources, tools and readings will be given in class

Reference Grammar (esp useful is the chrestomacy)
P. Stein, Lehrbuck der Sabaischen Sprache, Wiesbaden 2012 (2 vols)

students who will not attend the classes: Please contact the teacher well in advance to the exam's date.

NB: students who, despite being present, will not actively participate to the classes, will be also considered non attending students.

oral exam: discussion of the topics from the classes and related readings
Readings and exercises in preparation for the forthcoming classes

In class; classes will take the form of seminars. Students will be regularly required to prepare texts and sources for the forthcoming classes.

Italian

oral