77881 - Archaeology of the Sacred in the Phoenician and Punic Mediterranean

Learning outcomes

The course regards the detailed analysis of the historical, archaeological and epigraphic data relating to all aspects of the cult, the documentation relating to the sanctuaries and to the elements of the funeral ritual in use in the Syro-Palestinian coast, in Cyprus and in the Western Mediterranean from early Iron Age to the Romanization. After completing the course the student knows the specialized bibliography on religious history and is able to contextualize the artifacts related to Phoenician and Punic religion. The student reaches a sufficient level of knowledge of ritual practices through the study of inscriptions.

Course contents

Gods of Phoenician and Punic pantheon: historical and archaeological data and iconography.

Readings/Bibliography

1. Lectures notes.

2. A.C. Fariselli, Note di iconografia punica in Sardegna. Il triangolo apicato, in C. Del Vais (ed.), Epi oinopa ponton. Studi sul Mediterraneo antico in ricordo di Giovanni Tore, Oristano 2012, pp. 539-49.

3. A.C. Fariselli, Problematiche iconografiche e iconologiche delle rappresentazioni di divinita' guerriere nel mondo punico, in G. Pisano (ed.),Varia iconographica ab Oriente ad Occidentem, Studia Punica 14, 2006, pp. 75-102.

4. R. Secci, Da Nimrud a Cartagine. Rilettura iconografica di un rasoio punico al Museo del Bardo, in Riti sacrificali, simbologia funeraria ed emblemi politici da Cartagine a Lixus (= BYRSA. Arte cultura e archeologia del Mediterraneo punico, 19-20, 2011 [2013], pp. 129-52.

5. 2 articles in: L'archeologia punica e gli dei degli altri (= BYRSA. Arte cultura e archeologia del Mediterraneo punico, 21-22, 23-24, 2012-2013 [2015]).

Program for non attending students

Non-attending students are expected to complement bibliographic material as indicated in points 2-5 with: 

BYRSA. Scritti sull'antico Oriente mediterraneo, 25-26, 27-28, 2014-2015 [2016].

or 

BYRSA. Scritti sull'antico Oriente mediterraneo 29-30, 2016-2017.

Teaching methods

Lessons.

Assessment methods

The examination will take place through individual interviews. Students must know the fundamentals of the Phoenician and Punic civilization. They must also be able to contextualize within the historical framework, archaeological and epigraphic materials examined during the lessons, with special attention to sacred things in the Phoenician and Punic civilization. The assessment will also involve a detailed interrogation of all the texts listed in the bibliographic program.

Non-attending students are required to follow the reference lists recommended to attending students and to complement it with bibliographic material as suggested.

If the student demonstrates mastery of the subject, excellent exposure and logical connections between different historical-archaeological issues and about the bibliography will receive a good mark.
Students with a basic knowledge, who will be able to contextualize the archaeological materials examined and who will use a language not always appropriate to the subject will pass the exam.

Students with a lack of preparation, and who have not acquired the capacity to analyse the discipline and who have not memorized the bibliography will not pass the exam.

Teaching tools

Power point presentations; selected bibliography; teaching material online.

Office hours

See the website of Anna Chiara Fariselli