B5051 - Byzantine Philology (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide essential methodologies for a correct approach to Byzantine texts under the philological, historical-cultural and material point of view, with insights into the different linguistic registers used in the Middle Ages. At the end of the course the student will have acquired in-depth knowledge of the history of the manuscript tradition as well as of the ecdotic and exegetical problems relating to selected works in prose and poetry from the mediaeval millennium, also in relation to their historical context, from the proto-Byzantine age up to Humanism. Furthermore, the student will be provided with knowledge in the historical-linguistic and metric fields, in order to become familiar with the usus scribendi and the compositional techniques of the addressed authors and genres.

Course contents

The course introduces students to the main problems of Byzantine philology, guiding them in reading, analyzing, understanding, and historically and culturally contextualizing Greek medieval literary works. The chosen texts will be examined through the study of their authors and the respective literary genres; philological and critical-textual analysis of content, linguistic, and rhetorical-formal aspects; and the examination of the manuscript tradition. Additionally, advanced and effective ecdotic techniques and strategies will be considered. The course will also illustrate the main lexica of medieval Greek and the most useful bibliographic and digital resources for studying Byzantine literary texts.

In the academic year 2026/2027, following a brief introduction to Byzantine hymnography and, more specifically, to the hymnographic genre of the kanon (κανών), the course will focus on the critical edition of a hymn by Joseph the Hymnographer (ca. 816-886), one of the most prolific and accomplished liturgical poets of the Byzantine world. The text under examination, a kanon in honour of the Prophet Elijah, is preserved in at least four manuscripts. During the course, students will take an active part in the constitutio textus of the hymn through the reading and collation of the manuscript witnesses, engaging with the principal textual and editorial problems posed by the manuscript tradition of Byzantine liturgical texts and discussing possible solutions. The analysis of the manuscript tradition will also shed light on the processes of revision and functional adaptation that Byzantine hymns underwent over the centuries, while highlighting the importance of this kanon as evidence for the cult of the Prophet Elijah promoted by the Macedonian dynasty and for its use as an instrument of imperial propaganda during the reign of Emperor Basil I (867-886). In view of the seminar-based nature of the course, regular attendance is strongly recommended.

Readings/Bibliography

• F. D'Aiuto, "L'innografia", in Lo spazio letterario del Medioevo, III: Le culture circostanti, dir. M. Capaldo [et al.], 1: La cultura bizantina, a cura di G. Cavallo, Roma 2004, pp. 257-300.
• A. Giannouli, "Byzantine Hagiography and Hymnography: An Interrelationship", in The Ashgate Research Companion to Byzantine Hagiography, II: Genres and Contexts, ed. by S. Efthymiadis, Farnham, 2014, pp. 285-312.
• L. D'Amelia (a cura di), Giuseppe l'Innografo, Nuovo Ottoeco: gli otto canoni per i ss. Apostoli, introduzione, testo critico, traduzione e commento, Roma 2018 (Quaderni di Νέα Ῥώμη, 6; Series maior: Fonti e documenti, 1), pp. 19-28.
• G. Strano, "Elijah in Byzantium: A Prophet of Fire and Forgiveness for the Macedonian Dynasty (9th-10th cent.)", in V. Bedros [et al.] (Eds.), From Prophet to Miracle-Working Saint Dynamic Approaches to Elijah in Ancient and Medieval Cultures, Paderborn 2026 (Contexts of Ancient and Medieval Anthropology, 12), pp. 189-205.
• E. Tomadakes, "Un problema di innografia bizantina: il rimaneggiamento dei testi innografici", in Bollettino della Badia greca di Grottaferrata, n.s. 26 (1972), pp. 3-30.

Non-attending Students

In addition to the program indicated above:

• N. Patterson Ševčenko, "Canon and Calendar: the Role of a Ninth-Century Hymnographer in Shaping the Celebration of the Saints", in Byzantium in the Ninth Century: Dead or Alive? Papers from the Thirtieth Spring Symposium of Byzantine Studies (Birmingham, March 1996), ed. by L. Brubaker, Aldershot 1998 (Publications of the Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies, 5), pp. 101-114.

 

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.

Teaching methods

The adopted method will be that of frontal lectures; students will be actively involved during the lessons in the collation of manuscripts, analysis of variants and formulation of conjectures, development of a critical apparatus, and historical-cultural problematization of the texts examined.

Assessment methods

Oral examination. The assessment will aim to verify the students’ in-depth knowledge of the topics covered during the course and their critical ability in analyzing the examined Byzantine texts. The evaluation criteria include: 1) comprehension and mastery of historical, literary content, and linguistic and stylistic aspects; 2) ability in philological and critical interpretation of the studied texts, with particular attention to their historical and cultural contextualization; 3) capacity to present topics in a clear and coherent way, demonstrating terminological mastery and expository precision; 4) relevance and depth of responses, as well as originality and synthesis ability in addressing the proposed topics. The overall evaluation will take into account both the quality of the responses and the critical spirit and active participation demonstrated by the student during the course.

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.

Exam sessions are scheduled for the following months of the academic year:

1st session: January

2nd session: February

3rd session: March

4th session: April

5th session: May

6th session: June

7th session: September

8th session: October

Teaching tools

During the course, reproductions of manuscripts and specimens of critical editions of the examined texts will be provided in paper or digital format. A digital reproduction of the MS Leimon. 43 will be projected in class. Bibliographic material and teaching support can be downloaded from the course’s page on the platform https://virtuale.unibo.it/.

Office hours

See the website of Luigi D'Amelia