31929 - Religious History of the Iranian World (LM)

Learning outcomes

The student should acquire a basic knowledge of the cultural history of Pre-Islamic Iran, with special attention for its linguistic, literary, religious and historico-political traditions, also throughout the direct analysis and critical comment of ancient sources, epigraphic documents, coins, etc. The student, at the end of the course, should be able to frame in a proper way the main lines of the Pre-Islamic history and present in a documented form some aspects of its traditions.

Course contents

The classes offer an introduction to the linguistic and literary history of the Iranian Pre-Islamic world, with special reference for the textual sources extant in the manuscript tradition, in the epigraphical documentation as well as preserved in the oral folklore. Particular focus will be dedicatec to Avestan, Old Persian, Middle-Persian (in its varieties) and Sogdian.

Readings/Bibliography

Introduction to Iranian religions and languages:

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.

Students can choose optional bibliography during lessons

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