Italian. Possibly one lesson might be held in english by a visiting professor, of course with the presence of the titular professor in the room.
Course Content
Introduction to Latin epigraphy, particularly with regard to its use as a historical and archaeological research tool and the technicalities of epigraphical forms (schede)
A. Buonopane, Manuale di epigrafia latina, ed. Carocci, Roma 2009
or, alternatively,
S. Giorcelli, Epigrafia e storia romana, new ed. Carocci, Roma 2015. Further suggestions will be given by the teacher in the class
Learning Objectives
The course aims to enable students to learn the basics of the discipline : definition, main collections, classification of epigraphs , transcription and recording methods, electronic tools, analysis of inscriptions of historical importance. Practicing inscriptions like those pertaining the instrumentum domesticum, the epitaohs, or small fragments frequently discovered during archaeological excavations will be particularly useful.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of latin
Teaching Methods
Lectures with use of PowerPoint , but with the possibility and indeed opportunities for interaction between teacher and students. One or two visits to museums with epigraphical collections are envisaged to be organized, if possible.
Further information
Obligatory partecipation to the lessons with regular frequency
Type of Assessment
Oral exam. Checking examination of what has been explained by the teacher in the classroom, read sources, methods, and general considerations on latin epigraphy and its use from an historical-archaeological point of view. During the exam the candidate might be asked to do a simple proof of transcription with the use of diacritical symbols taught in class and described in the handbook.
Course program
The course will mainly focus on these issues: definition of epigraphy; inscriptions in ancient literary sources; classification of epigraphs; paleography; internet tools and databases; technicalities and methods of transcription; criteries for establishing a chronology; analysis of a dossier of historical relevance (inscriptions of Italian cities). See moreover s.v. "Obiettivi formativi"