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

Singing of Ecstasy and Knowledge: the Odes of Solomon and the Dawn of Christian Poetry.

Surviving in almost their entirety only in Syriac, the Odes of Solomon are a collection of forty-two poems of varying length, purporting to be the lyrical distillation of the poet-author's visionary experiences. Variously labeled as “Judeo-Christian” or “Gnostic”, they most likely offer a valuable glimpse into the earliest phase of Christian poetry in the Syro-Palestinian region, its literary models, and the contexts in which poems and hymns were conceived, written down, and/or performed. 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, translate from Syriac, and analyze selected Odes, where possible, in close parallel to other linguistic traditions that transmit them (Coptic, Greek, Latin).

Readings/Bibliography

a) Grammar

J.F. Coakley, Robinson's Paradigms and Exercises in Syriac Grammar, 6th ed., Oxford University Press 2013;

b) Syriac Text

M. Casadei, Le Odi di Salomone. Introduzione, traduzione e note, PhD dissertation discussed at Padua University, 2004;

J.H. Charlesworth, The Odes of Solomon. The Syriac Texts, Edited With Translation and Notes, Scholars Press 1977;

M. Lattke, Oden Salomos. Text, Übersetzung, Kommentar, 3 voll., Universitätsverlag Freiburg - Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht 1999-2005;

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

M. Casadei, Le Odi di Salomone nel racconto mitico dell’ascesa di Pistis Sophia (Codex Askewianus), Studi e Materiali di Storia delle Religioni 75/2 (2009) 613-641;

M. Lattke, Dating the Odes of Solomon, Antichton 27 (1993) 45-59;

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 ability

• 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 Odes of Solomon in all their complexity as a literary, historical, and cultural artifact, 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 article 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. 

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. Students with learning disorders and/or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Office hours

See the website of Daniele Tripaldi