39523 - History of Writing and Papyri (1) (LM)

Course contents

The course offers an introduction into the paleography of greek papyri and into ancient book history. A good knowledge of Ancient Greek is a requirement for the partecipation.

The course will describe the history of writing from the hellenistic age until Arabic times, differenced according to genres (literary, semiliterary and documentary) and text types.

A special attention will be put on the delineation of formal aspects as format, text-layout and the different styles in literary and documentary texts.

The course will include practical exercises of decipherments of significant examples from different periods and genres.

Readings/Bibliography

E. Turner - P. J. Parsons, Greek Manuscripts of the Ancient World, second edition [BICS Suppl. 46], London 1987, pp. 1–23.

G. Cavallo, Greek and Latin Writing in the Papyri, in: R. S. Bagnall (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Papyrology, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2009, pp. 101–148.

W. Johnson, The Ancient Book, in: R. S. Bagnall (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Papyrology, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2009, pp. 256–281.

J.-L. Fournet, Disposition et réalisation graphique des lettres et des pétitions protobyzantines : Pour une paléographie « signifiante » des papyrus documentaires, in: J. Frösén - T. Purola - E. Salmenkivi (edd.), Proceedings of the 24. Congress of Papyrology, Helsinki, 1–7 August, 2004 [Comm. Hum. Litt. Vol. 122], Helsinki 2007, pp. 353–367.

Further literature and images of papyri will be furnished during the course in Virtuale by the professor.

Students who are not able to attend the lessons have to reach an agreement with the professor about an alternative program, and have to prepare besides the literature and the material uploaded by the professor C. H. Roberts, Greek Literary Hands, 350 B.C. – A.D. 400, Oxford 1955 and E. Turner - P. J. Parsons, Greek Manuscripts of the Ancient World, second edition [BICS Suppl. 46], London 1987.

Teaching methods

Lessons are taught ex-cathedra as well as in form of seminarial teaching. Students are welcome to take active part in the lessons.

Assessment methods

Oral exam about the themes of the lessons and the texts given in the bibliography; practical test in identifying text genre of an ancient handwriting and dating it.

There are eight examination sessions scheduled during the academic year, which take place in the following months: February, March, April, May, July, September, October, and November.

Intermediate tests will serve as a check of the learning outcome. The results can be considered for the final score.

The exam is passed if pupils answer correctly and in a proper way, deciphering, identifying and dating the text and show knowledge of the main features of the discipline. Outstanding knowledge of both the literature and the handwriting is evaluated at the maximum; good knowledge and ability in the analysis of the papyrus, but more mnemonic can earn a good evaluation; a knowledge with some mistakes and misunderstandings are sufficient to pass, serious lacunae in the knowledge of the literature and no skills in analyzing the handwriting do not allow to pass.

There are at least 6 possibilities per year to give the exam; the dates are published twice, normally in November for the first 4, and March-April for the last 2. All students must be listed on Almaesami and no students are allowed to give exams out of the public lists.

All students must be present at the call of the examination. No students are allowed to give exams out of the public lists.

Please check in advance if your administrative position is regular, otherwise you will not be admitted to the exam. Students who attend at least 75% of the lessons are considered to be attending.

Teaching tools

The lessons will be held with Powerpoint presentations. Also original papyri of the Bologna collections will be studied. All texts commented on during the course will be available in Virtuale.

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 Fabian Lothar Walter Reiter