92935 - Syrian Christian Literature (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

Upon a successful completion of this course, students will achieve basic skills in reading Syriac writing systems and translating simple sentences. They will also acquire first-hand knowledge of the history and development of ancient Christian Syriac literature, between re-readings and re-writings of the Bible and the reception of the Greek Christian tradition, on the one side, and the transmission and re-interpretation of the classical legacy (from Plato to alchemic texts) in Late Antique Near East, on the other.

Course contents

Lucian of Samosata's De calumnia: Towards a Reappraisal of the Syriac Translation.

Syriac speaking Christan élites were omnivorous readers. Such wide cultural interests sparked an intense translation activity, ranging from Old and New Testament 'apocrypha' to Porphyry, from the Hippocratic corpus to Ps.-Dionysius the Areopagite. Even a logos, in Syriac mimra', by Lucian of Samosata - "the philosopher", according to the superscriptio of the Syriac manuscript transmitting the text - did not escape their attention. This logos is known to us under the title of Calumniae non temere credendum est, or more simply, De calumnia. In a first step, the course will provide students with the basic knowledge of what was probably the most widespread writing system of the Syriac language: the serto (20 hours). The last 10 hours of the course will be then devoted to read and investigate selected passages from the Syriac translation of the De calumnia in close parallel to their Greek original.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is suggested that they get in touch as soon as possible with the relevant University office ( https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) and with the lecturer in order to seek together the most effective strategies for following the lessons and/or preparing for the examination.

Readings/Bibliography

a) Grammar:

T.H. Robinson, Paradigms and Exercises in Syriac Grammar, Oxford University Press 1915 (5th ed. thoroughly revised by J.F. Oakley, 2003);

b) Syriac Text:

L. Sachau, Inedita Syriaca. Eine Sammlung syrischer Übersetzungen von Schriften griechischer Profanliteratur, Georg Olms 1968 (ed. or.: Wien 1870), 1-16;

c) Studies

1. Literary Outlines

P. Bettiolo, Lineamenti di patrologia siriaca, in Complementi interdisciplinari di patrologia, ed. by A. Quacquarelli, Città Nuova 1969, 503-603;

— Syriac Literature, in Patrology: The Eastern Fathers from the Council of Chalcedon (451) to John of Damascus (750), ed. by A. Di Berardino, A. Walford, and J. Quasten, vol. 5, James Clarke 2006, 407-490;

S.P. Brock, A Brief Outline of Syriac Literature, St. Ephrem Ecumenical Research Institute 1987;

2. Short Essays

S. Brock, Towards a history of Syriac translation technique, in III Symposium Syriacum, ed. by R. Lavenant, Pontificium Institutum Orientalium Studiorum 1983, 1-14;

M.D. Macleod - L.R. Wickham, The Syriac Version of Lucian's De Calumnia, The Classical Quarterly 20/2 (1970) 297-299;

A. Rigolio, From sacrifice to the gods to the fear of God: omissions, additions, and changes in the Syriac translations of Plutarch, Lucian, and Themistius, Studia Patristica 64 (2013) 133-143.

Teaching methods

Lectures; analysis of literary texts in Syriac, Greek and Latin; use of bibliographic and electronic databases; audio- and video resources.

Assessment methods

Oral exam. Students will have to prove their abilities

• to fluently read a simple sentence in Syriac;
• to rapidly sketch the main trajectories and debates as well as to discuss the most relevant works and authors in the development of ancient Christian literature in Syriac, with the help of one critical introduction of their choice to be selected from those enlisted supra in Bibliography, under the entry Studies, section 1. Literary Outlines;
• to interpret the Syriac version of the De calumnia as a complex historical and literary artifact, supplementing and integrating class notes with one of the articles cited supra in Bibliography under the entry Short Essays;

Additionally, students who cannot attend the lessons will substitute class notes with the remaining two articles from the list of the Short Essays (see supra Bibliography, c) Studies, Section 2.)

Skills will be assessed according to the following guidelines:

- failing grade (< 18): inability to read continuously simple phrases in Syriac; inability to provide correct interpretation of texts; lack of knowledge of literary history.

- passing grade (between 18 and 24): elementary ability to read continuously simple phrases in Syriac; interpretation of texts is partially correct, but lacks accuracy and autonomy; schematic knowledge of literary history.

- positive grade (between 24 and 30): fluent reading of simple phrases in Syriac; interpretation of texts is correct, but mostly superficial and not entirely autonomous; average knowledge of literary history.

- excellent grade (30L): fluent reading of simple phrases in Syriac; ability to interpret, contextualize, critically compare texts in detail and in full autonomy; in-depth knowledge of literary history.

Students with SLD or temporary or permanent disabilities. It is necessary to contact the relevant University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en ) with ample time in advance: the office will propose some adjustments, which must in any case be submitted 15 days in advance to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of these in relation to the teaching objectives.

Every academic year 6 exam sessions are scheduled for the following months: February, April, June, October, November, December - for all students.

Teaching tools

Computer and projector; bibliographic and electronic databases; fotocopies; texts and segments of texts in PDF format uploaded by the teacher as teaching materials (downloadable from https://iol.unibo.it). Students who require specific services and adaptations to teaching activities due to a disability or specific learning disorders (SLD), must first contact the appropriate office: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students.

Office hours

See the website of Daniele Tripaldi