30457 - Philology, Linguistics and Religious History of Iran

Learning outcomes

The course aims to offer students with a wide knowledge of the Iranian cultural history with special regard for its linguistic and philological complexity and with a strong focus on its religious history. Every year at least one Iranian language will be investigated with close regard for some religious and political or historical problems connected to the Iranian sources.

Course contents

The course provides students with a general knowledge of the Iranian cultural history, with particular reference to the historic-religious context in the light of textual sources. Aspects of the Mazdean tradition and its ritual framework will be analyzed during seminarial lessons. Further linguistic studies could be offered to interested students.

Readings/Bibliography

Introduction to Iranian religions and languages:

I.M. Oranskij, Le lingue Iraniche, ed. it. a cura di A.V. Rossi, Napoli 1973.

N. Sims-Williams, "Le lingue iraniche", in Le lingue indeuropee, a cura di A. Giacalone Ramat e P. Ramat, Bologna 1993, pp. 151-179.

J. Wiesehofer, La Persia antica, Bologna 2003.

A. Panaino, "Zoroastrismo e religioni dell'Iran preislamico", in Dizionario del sapere storico-religioso del Novecento, a cura di A. Melloni, Bologna 2010, pp. 1752-1792.

Students can choose optional bibliography during lessons

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons using textual material for students; discussions about the items also with the presence of other colleagues.

Assessment methods

The examination consists in a discussion of the main items presented during the lessons: political and religious history of Ancient Iran and problems of Iranian linguistics.

Teaching tools

Books, reproduction of original texts, xeroxes, maps, audiovisula means, web data etc.

Office hours

See the website of Antonio Clemente Domenico Panaino