30457 - Philology, Language and Religious History of Iran

Learning outcomes

The couse introduces the students into the history of the Iranian Pre-Islamic world, where different cultures and religions met and sometimes clashed each other. Zoroastrianism (with its varieties), Manichaeism, Buddhism and Christianity were strongly present in this area and produced important syntheses with mutual influences, that played a certain impact also on Western and (more) Eastern cultures. At the end of the course the student should know the fundamental historical lines distinguishing this cultural region, also with a basic knowledge of its textual (oral and written) tradition. The student will be given the possibility to reflect on the complexity of the ethno-linguistic and religious situation of Middle East, the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Course contents

The course is dedicated to the history of Zoroastrianism in its controversial development. Particular attention will concern the study of the relations between Zoroastrianism and the Indo-Iranian ritual tradition, but also that of the Iranian Late Antiquity period in which Manichaean, Christian and Buddhist communities played an enormous influence on this part of the world.Particular cases concerning ethno-linguistic and ethno-religious minorities with special regard for the Iranian area will be discussed during the course.

Readings/Bibliography

A. Panaino, Zoroastrismo. Storia, Temi, Attualità, Brescia (Morcelliana) 2016.

I.M. Oranskij, Le lingue Iraniche, ed. it. a cura di A.V. Rossi, Napoli 1973.

N. Sims-Williams, "Le lingue iraniche", in Le lingue indeuropee, a cura di A. Giacalone Ramat e P. Ramat, Bologna 1993, pp. 151-179.

J. Wiesehofer, La Persia antica, Bologna 2003.

A. Panaino, "Zoroastrismo e religioni dell'Iran preislamico", in Dizionario del sapere storico-religioso del Novecento, a cura di A. Melloni, Bologna 2010, pp. 1752-1792.

Emmerick, Ronald E. and Macuch, Maria, (eds.), The Literature of Pre-Islamic Iran. Companion Volume I to A History of Persian Literature. London: Taurus.

Students can choose optional bibliography during lessons

 and English versions of some materials put at their disposal

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons using textual material for students; discussions about the items also with the presence of other colleagues.

Assessment methods

The examination consists in a discussion of the main items presented during the lessons: political and religious history of Ancient Iran and problems of Iranian linguistics.

Teaching tools

Manuals, videos, manuscripts in facsimile, epigraphic sources, coins, etc.

Office hours

See the website of Antonio Clemente Domenico Panaino