Academic Year 2021/2022
- Docente: Silvia Ferrara
- Credits: 6
- SSD: L-FIL-LET/01
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Philology, Literature and Classical Tradition (cod. 9070)
Learning outcomes
Upon a successful completion of this course, students will achieve basic skills in reading the syllabary and in interpreting a selection of texts and will be able to embed them in the archaeological context of the Mycenaean palaces and the Aegean material culture.
Course contents
The module follows the following trajectories:
A. Reading Linear B texts. Introduction to the decipherment of Linear B, its orthographic conventions, morphological reconstruction of the Mycenaean dialect and interpretation of the most significant texts from the archives of the palaces (mainly from Pylos and Knossos). Reading the Linear B texts will take up 50% of the total time commitment, i.e. 15 hours total.
B. Archaeology. Archaeological context in which the Linear B tablets operate, reconstruction of aspects of Mycenaean culture in its broadest array, such as society, economy and religion. Minoan and Mycenaean material cultures confronted.
C. Linear B Seminar Lab. Linked to this course is the Linear B Seminar Lab, in the Seminario series, with practicals and experimentation with Linear B tablets, recreated with clay and styli. The Lab will cover a total of 4 hours.
Readings/Bibliography
A. Text Analysis
M. Ventris e J. Chadwick. 1972, II ed. Documents in Mycenaean Greek. Cambridge. Selected chapters only.
M. Del Freo, M. Perna. 2016, eds. [http://www.libreriauniversitaria.it/manuale-epigrafia-micenea-introduzione-studio/libro/9788862927161]. 2 voli., Padova.
B. Archaeology
J. Chadwick. 1976. The Mycenaean World, Cambridge.
NB: All extra material is available on the course IOL platform.
NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS
Non-attending students are required to follow a specific programme that is agreed upon directly with the course convenor (Silvia Ferrara), especially in relation to the selection of Linear B texts to be prepared for the final exam. The bibliography offered for attending students is intended for non-attending students as well.
Teaching methods
Seminar-based, with direct participation from the students, who will read texts in class and optionally integrate these with topics of their choosing (ppt presentations, essays)
Assessment methods
Assessment revolves around:
- A final oral exam on the methods related to the historical contextualisation of Mycenaean society and culture. The exam is geared towards assessing the student's critical thinking and capacity to juggle the interdisciplinary structure of the course.
- Translation of Linear B texts, with a specific focus on the linguistic analysis of 2/3 texts and philological commentary.
- Individual directed study with chosen topics (ppt presentation on a specific topic, short analytical essays): this is optional.
Top marks presuppose that 1,2 and 3 are met with excellent presentation skills and agility in juggling them. Mediocre performances in terms of poor language appropriateness, lack of analysis or mechanical rehashing will receive poor marks.
Teaching tools
All lectures are on ppt/keynote. The Linear B Seminar Lab involve clay and wooden styli for the re-creation of Mycenaean tablets, all provided by the course convenor (Silvia Ferrara).
The Course webpage on IOL contains all the material relevant to the subject, with the addition of several extra resources to gain more advanced knowledge.
Office hours
See the website of Silvia Ferrara