03619 - Roman Archaeology and History of Art

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student knows territorial and urban planning, buildings and monumental contexts, figurative expressions, handicraft production of the cultures of the Roman world, from the republican age to the late empire period. It also has the essential tools to combine archaeological research, both in terms of the elaboration and deepening of knowledge, and in terms of a first approach to archaeological field research, refined in laboratories and construction sites.

Course contents

1. general part: main historical and geographical references of the Roman world.

The time line from the royal age to the late antique.

The origins of Rome and its urban and monumental development. Rome and Italy: colonies and municipalities, streets, settlements, territories. Construction techniques and materials. The forms of living: the Roman house. Holes, temples, public buildings.

The world of images: cultured art, plebeian art. Painting and mosaic. The historical relief. The face of the Romans: development of the portrait in Roman figurative culture.

The problem of the late Roman age.

2. case-study: "Roman painting". A journey into the pictorial production of the Roman world: stylistic and technological considerations.

 

STUDENTS WHO INTEND TO FOLLOW THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED IN RELATION TO THE COURSE ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE TRAINING MODULES ON SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE (https://www.unibo.it/it/servizi-e-opportunita/salute -and-assistance / health-and-safety / safety-and-health-in-the-places-of-study-and-training). FOR THE EXCAVATION, IN ADDITION, HEALTH FITNESS IS REQUIRED, WHICH IS ASSESSED AFTER THE MEDICAL EXAMINATION ORGANIZED BY THE UNIVERSITY MEDICINE SERVICE.

Readings/Bibliography

ATTENDING STUDENTS:

To prepare for the exam, attending students must study, in addition to lecture notes, a manual chosen from the following:

- R. Bianchi Bandinelli, Roma. L'arte romana nel centro del potere, Milano, Rizzoli editore + R. Bianchi Bandinelli, Roma. La fine dell'arte antica, Milano, Rizzoli editore (study until Teodosio).

Or:

- M. Torelli, M. Menichetti, G.L. Grassigli, Arte e archeologia del mondo romano, Milano, Longanesi, 2008.

Or:

- M. Papini, Arte romana, Milano 2016 (con ristampe)

 

STUDENTS NOT ATTENDING:

Non-attending students are required to prepare, in addition to the manual indicated above, an additional volume to be chosen from the following:

- P. Zanker, Arte romana, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2008.

- P. Zanker, Un'arte per l'impero. Funzione e intenzione delle immagini nel mondo romano, Milano, Electa editore.

- T. Hoelscher, Il linguaggio dell'arte romana, Torino, Einaudi editore.

- S. De Maria, Segni, cerimonie e monumenti del potere, in S. Settis (a cura di), Civiltà dei Romani. Il potere e l'esercito, Milano, Electa, 1991, pp. 123-143.

- P. Gros, L'architettura romana dagli inizi del III secolo a.C. alla fine dell'alto impero. I monumenti pubblici, Milano, Longanesi editore, pp. 134-300.

- F. Coarelli, Roma (Guide Archeologiche Laterza), nuova ediz., Roma-Bari 2008 e ss.

- E. De Albentiis, La casa dei Romani, Milano, Longanesi. 1990.

- H. von Hesberg, Monumenta. I sepolcri romani e la loro architettura, Milano, Longanesi, 1994.

- I. Baldassarre, A. Pontrandolfo, A. Rouveret, M. Salvadori, Pittura romana. Dall'Ellenismo al tardo Antico, Milano 2006.

- J. Scheid, Rito e religione dei Romani, Bergamo 2009.

- P. MORACHIELLO, V. FONTANA, L'architettura del mondo romano, Laterza, Bari 2009.

- A. CARANDINI (a cura di), Atlante di Roma antica, Milano 2013

- A. CARANDINI, E. PAPI, Adriano. Roma e Atene, Milano 2019

- G. DE SANCTIS, Roma prima di Roma. Miti e fondazioni della città eterna, Salerno Editrice, Roma 2021

- N. TERRENATO, La grande trattativa, Carocci, Roma 2022

Alternative solutions can be agreed directly with the teacher.

Teaching methods

Given the particular setting of the course, all students are invited to attend the lessons, which will have a "seminar" style as much as possible, with active participation in the presentation of the study topics.

Students who cannot attend the lessons will have to study a manual of their choice among those indicated in the "texts / bibliography" item, together with a further reading, to be chosen from those recommended in the previous section.

Anyone with particular interests (or needs) can contact the teacher to define any alternative programs.

Students who are affected by learning disability (DSA) and in need of special strategies to compensate it, are kindly requested to contact the Teacher, in order to be referred to the colleagues in charge and get proper advice and instructions.

Assessment methods

The test will consist of an oral exam, which aims to evaluate the acquisition of basic knowledge in the field of Archeology and the History of Roman Art. Particular attention will therefore be paid to the solidity of the geographical and chronological framework of each site and each monument. The acquisition of specialized language will be evaluated very positively.

The purpose of the exam is also to verify the methodological and critical skills acquired by the student, through the study of the assigned bibliography. Given the importance of class attendance, the following evaluation parameters will be adopted for attending students and for non-attending students.

Attending students

The student's ability to actively participate in the lessons will be assessed: these skills, combined with the achievement of a thorough understanding of the subject dealt with during the lessons, with the demonstration of critical sense and with adequate verbal means of expression, will be evaluated with the maximum scores (27-30 with laude).

Attendance to lessons, associated with a predominantly mnemonic acquisition of the course subject and with not fully satisfactory verbal expression and logical skills, will be evaluated with a score between good (24-26) and satisfactory (21-23).

Attendance to lessons, associated with minimal acquisition of the course subject and inadequate verbal expression and logical skills, will be evaluated with sufficient scores (18-20).

The absence of a minimum acquisition of the course subject combined with inadequate verbal expression and logical skills, will be evaluated with insufficient score, which involves repeating the exam.

Non-attending students

Non-attending students will be assessed above all on the ability to use the bibliography and multimedia tools provided to properly expose the course contents. This ability, combined with the achievement of a thorough understanding of the subject covered during the lessons, with the demonstration of critical sense and with adequate verbal expression means, will be evaluated with maximum scores (27-30 with laude).

A predominantly mnemonic acquisition of the course subject, with not fully satisfactory verbal expression and logical skills, will be evaluated with a score between good (24-26) and satisfactory (21-23).

A minimum acquisition of the course subject, with inadequate verbal expression and logical skills, will be evaluated with sufficient score (18-20).

The absence of a minimum acquisition of the subject of the course combined with inadequate verbal expression and logical skills, will be evaluated with insufficient score, which requires the repetition of the entire exam.

Teaching tools

Lessons will make extensive use of illustrative material, such as plans, models, reproductions of objects and works of art, which will be made available on the virtual.unibo.it platform at the end of the course.

Direct visits to art collections in museums and collections are also planned. If resources permit, it will be possible to organise short study trips to archaeological sites and exhibitions. Students on the course will also be offered the opportunity to participate in archaeological excavations directed by course lecturers in Italy and elsewhere in the Classical world.


Students who, for reasons dependent on disabilities or specific learning disorders (DSA), require compensatory tools may inform the lecturer of their needs in order to be referred to the contact persons and to agree on the adoption of the most appropriate arrangements.

Office hours

See the website of Giuseppe Lepore