90099 - History and Success of Classical Mythology

Learning outcomes

The studente acquires the tools for the analysis and interpretation of Classical Mythology, both in its synchronic (structure) and diachronic (history) aspects. The recurrence of themes tied to the classical mythologic narrative is also identified in some cultural contexts that are subsequent to the original one. This process includes the discovery of echoes of classical mythology in modern and contemporary culture

Course contents

The course is divided into two sections:

a) Comprehensive introduction to Greek myth through literary texts and iconographic sources: reading and analysis of some exemplary myths;

b) Achilles and Ulysses: comparing heroic models from ancient tradition to contemporaneity.

The analysis of the myths of Achilles and Ulysses carried out in this course is preparatory to the subsequent lessons of Greek Language and Literature, which focus on the same theme of the comparison between the two heroic models of reference in the Greek world.

Readings/Bibliography

a) For the general section on the introduction to Greek myth, the lecture notes are to be supplemented with the study of all the teaching materials on the course website.

b) For the monographic section, it is required the reading of Il volo di Ulisse. Variazioni sul mito, a cura di M.G. Ciani, Venezia: Marsilio, 2004 e un saggio a scelta tra i seguenti: P. Boitani, L'ombra di Ulisse. Figure di un mito, Bologna: Il Mulino, 1992; G. Ieranò, Gli eroi della guerra di Troia. Elena, Ulisse, Achille e gli altri, Venezia: Marsilio, 2020; M. Centanni, Contro Ulisse. Un'eroe sotto accusa, Roma: Salerno Editrice, 2021; M. Bonazzi, Il naufragio di Ulisse. Un viaggio nella nostra crisi, Torino: Einaudi, 2023.

Non-attending students are required to read I miti greci, a cura di G. Zanetto, Milano: Bur, 2007.

Teaching methods

Reading and analysis of literary texts concerning  the myths taken into consideration and comparison with the ancient and modern iconographic tradition.

In particular, with reference to Achilles and Ulysses, at least one lesson will be held at thePalazzo Milzetti, Faenza, Museum of Neoclassicism in Romagna, where Felice Giani's important decorative cycles with scenes from the Iliad and Odyssey are to be found.

Assessment methods

Oral examination that will consist of critical discussion on both sections of the course.

The assessment will be based on the following criteria

• negative assessment: the student demonstrates inadequate preparation. He/she is unable to understand and contextualise the mythographic traditions on the syllabus.
  

• sufficient assessment: the student demonstrates acceptable preparation. Is able to understand and contextualise the mythographic traditions on the syllabus (marks between 18/30 and 23/30);
• positive evaluation: the student demonstrates a good preparation in the mythographic tradition on the syllabus, knows its fundamental themes and iconographic fortune (marks between 24/30 and 27/30);
• excellent evaluation: the student demonstrates an excellent preparation in all parts of the test and possesses significant capacity for critical elaboration of the topics covered (marks between 28/30 and 30/30).

Teaching tools

The following teaching materials are available on the course website:

• texts of the classical authors analysed
• critical essays on the topics addressed
• handouts and slides presented in class.

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Iannucci