Ateneo - UPO

The integrated course offers a coordinated introduction to Greek and Latin literary civilizations.

The Latin Literature A module, entitled Maledetti, vi amerò. Being Bad in Rome, examines the literary, moral and cultural construction of figures perceived as “bad” in the Roman world: traitors, tyrants, conspirators, public enemies, dangerous women, infamous characters and gladiators. Through the reading, translation and commentary of Latin texts, the module explores the relationship between language, literature, power, identity, desire, marginality and social control.

The Introduction to Greek Literary Civilization module examines the relationship between myth and poetry in ancient Greece through texts from epic, lyric poetry, tragedy and comedy, read in Italian translation, with attention to their historical and performative contexts and to Aristotle’s theory of poetry.

Taken together, the two modules provide linguistic, literary-historical and critical tools for understanding and interpreting classical texts within their respective cultural and communicative contexts.

A) Latin Literature A module

Attending students

Lecture notes.
A dossier of Latin texts to be translated and analysed, available on the DIR platform and forming an integral part of the examination syllabus.
C. Mann, I gladiatori, Bologna, il Mulino, 2014.
Plautus, Sallust, Caesar, Cicero, Livy, Seneca, Suetonius, Juvenal and Tacitus, to be studied using a Latin literature textbook currently used during the final three years of upper secondary school; alternatively: P. Fedeli, E. Malaspina, L. Antonelli, Le parole di Roma. Storia della letteratura latina, Turin, UTET Università, 2023.
One volume chosen from: F. Cenerini, Messalina. Leggenda e storia di una donna pericolosa, Rome-Bari, Laterza, 2024; L. Capponi, Cleopatra, Rome-Bari, Laterza, 2021; L. Canfora, Catilina. Una rivoluzione mancata, Rome-Bari, Laterza, 2023; A. Carandini, with N. Squartini, Io, Nerone, Rome-Bari, Laterza, 2023.

Non-attending students

Students must prepare the texts listed under points 2–4 above and, in addition:

F. Berardi, Le vie del latino. Storia della lingua latina con elementi di grammatica storica, 2nd ed., Galatina, Congedo, 2022.
F. Biddau, Il canone del ritmo. Introduzione alla prosodia e metrica del latino classico, Rome, Edizioni di Storia e Letteratura, 2021.
Two volumes chosen from those listed under point 5 of the programme for attending students.

Students exempted from the written examination must also prepare M.C. Scappaticcio, Voci di Pompei. Latino e cultura letteraria, Rome, Carocci, 2026. For a third enrolment in the course, the additional volume is B. Santorelli, Storia della lingua latina, Rome, Carocci, 2025.

B) Introduction to Greek Literary Civilization module

Homer, Odyssey, edited by F. Ferrari, UTET Libreria; alternatively, edited by V. Di Benedetto, BUR.
Il teatro greco. Tragedie, BUR; alternatively, I tragici greci. Eschilo, Sofocle, Euripide, edited by F.M. Pontani et al., Newton Compton, 2010.
Aristotle, Poetics, edited by D. Lanza, BUR.
Aristophanes, La festa delle donne, edited by G. Paduano, BUR.
A. Beltrametti, La letteratura greca, Rome, Carocci, 2005; alternatively, A. Rodighiero, S. Mazzoldi, D. Piovan, Civiltà letteraria della Grecia antica, Zanichelli, 2025.
A. Ercolani, Esiodo. Opere e giorni, Rome, Carocci, 2010.
E. Csapo, Actors and Icons of the Ancient Theater, Chichester, 2010.
A. Hughes, Performing Greek Comedy, Cambridge, 2014.

The works, sections to be studied and any differences in the syllabus for the various categories of students are specified in the “Detailed Programme” section.

In line with the learning objectives of the Degree Programme in Humanities, the integrated course aims to:
a) consolidate knowledge of the Latin language through the reading, translation and analysis of literary texts;
b) provide essential knowledge of the main genres, myths, authors and contexts of Greek and Latin literature;
c) develop the ability to interpret texts within their historical, cultural and performative contexts, establishing connections between works, genres and traditions;
d) promote the formulation of well-founded judgements, clear and independent presentation skills, and the appropriate use of disciplinary terminology.

The course consists of two 6-credit modules: the Latin module includes 36 hours of face-to-face teaching and the Greek module 30 hours; the remaining workload is devoted to individual study, translation activities, and preparation of the prescribed texts and materials.

Students are expected to have a good command of Italian, basic knowledge of ancient history and Mediterranean geography, and basic IT skills for using the DIR platform and digital teaching materials.

For the Latin module, five years of Latin at upper secondary school are required, together with a basic knowledge of the main morphological and syntactic structures, to be progressively consolidated through the reading, analysis and translation of texts. No prior knowledge of Greek is required.

There are no formal course prerequisites.

The course adopts coordinated teaching methods across the two modules.

The Latin module combines lectures, the reading, translation and linguistic analysis of texts, discussion of the main interpretative issues, and mock examinations. The Greek module includes lectures on genres, myths, and historical and performative contexts, together with the reading of texts in Italian translation and guided classroom discussion.

Active participation is encouraged through translation and analysis exercises, questions, comparison of interpretations, and classroom discussion. The DIR platform is used to share teaching materials; tutoring activities are also provided.

Disabilities, Specific Learning Disorders and Special Educational Needs

Students with disabilities, Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) or Special Educational Needs (SEN) may request the specific services and support provided by the University by contacting the Staff for the Development and Coordination of Student Careers and Services and consulting the relevant University webpage:

https://uniupo.it/it/servizi/servizi-studentesse-e-studenti-condizione-di-disabilit%C3%A0-e-dsa

After contacting the appropriate University office, students with disabilities, SLD or SEN may contact the lecturer responsible for the relevant module to agree on teaching arrangements and, where necessary, appropriate examination procedures, in accordance with the guidance provided by the competent offices.

Assessment consists of three compulsory examinations: a written and an oral examination for the Latin module, and a written examination for the Greek module. All examinations must be passed. The final grade is awarded jointly by the lecturers of the two modules on the basis of the overall achievement of the learning outcomes and is not calculated as the arithmetic or weighted average of separate module grades.

Latin module. The written examination lasts two hours and consists of the translation, with a dictionary, of an unseen Latin text comparable in style, genre and period to those studied. It assesses the ability to apply morphological, syntactic and linguistic knowledge independently. It accounts for 45% of the Latin module assessment and must be passed before the oral examination. Attending students, defined as those who have attended at least 75% of the classes, may take it as an interim examination.

The oral examination accounts for 55% of the Latin module assessment and includes: translation and grammatical and syntactic analysis of a prescribed Latin passage (60%); its literary, historical, philological and cultural contextualization (40%); and questions on the prescribed critical studies and volumes. Each component must be passed. Non-attending and single-course students must also pass an assessment in Latin prosody and metre. Exemptions from the written examination apply only under the conditions specified in the “Detailed Programme”.

Greek module. The written examination assesses: the treatment of myth in different literary genres; literary history and historical, geographical and performative contexts; ancient theories of poetry, particularly Aristotle; and the ability to formulate well-founded judgements on texts and interpretations.

A passing grade requires essential knowledge, correct comprehension, relevant answers and, for Latin, an overall accurate translation and recognition of the main linguistic structures. Higher grades require broader and better-organized knowledge, accurate application, relevant connections, appropriate terminology and increasing independence. Excellent grades require full command of the content, rigorous interpretation, critical autonomy and clear, precise expression.

The integrated course consists of two coordinated and compulsory modules.

1. Latin Literature A – Maledetti, vi amerò. Being Bad in Rome

The module examines the literary, moral and cultural construction of figures perceived as “bad” in the Roman world: traitors, tyrants, conspirators, public enemies, dangerous women, infamous characters, and figures marked by desire, ambition, violence or excess. Through the reading, translation and analysis of Latin texts, the course explores the relationships between language, literary representation, moral judgement, power, identity, fear and marginality. Particular attention is devoted to gladiators and to the contrast between their infamous status and their powerful appeal in the Roman imagination.

Integration of the gender dimension. The module analyses female figures represented as dangerous, destabilizing or morally ambiguous, with attention to the relationships between gender, power, desire, reputation, infamy and social control.

Attending students must prepare: lecture notes; the dossier of Latin texts available on DIR; Plautus, Sallust, Caesar, Cicero, Livy, Seneca, Suetonius, Juvenal and Tacitus; C. Mann, I gladiatori; and one volume chosen from those on Messalina, Cleopatra, Catiline and Nero listed under “Textbooks and Reference Materials”. Students who attend at least 75% of classes are considered attending students. They are not required to scan the poetic texts in the dossier and may take the written examination as an interim test.

Non-attending students must prepare: the dossier; C. Mann, I gladiatori; the authors listed above; F. Berardi, Le vie del latino; F. Biddau, Il canone del ritmo; and two volumes chosen from those on Messalina, Cleopatra, Catiline and Nero. They must also scan all poetic texts in the dossier and take the written examination during the official examination sessions.

Students exempted from the written examination under the conditions specified in the “Assessment Methods” section must also prepare M.C. Scappaticcio, Voci di Pompei; for a third enrolment in the course, the additional volume is B. Santorelli, Storia della lingua latina. Single-course students are required to take the written examination and pass an assessment in Latin prosody and metre.

2. Introduction to Greek Literary Civilization

The module introduces Greek literary civilization through the relationship between myth and poetry and the reading of fundamental texts in Italian translation. The programme includes: Homer, Odyssey, Books 8–12; Hesiod; Greek lyric poetry, especially Sappho and Pindar; an introduction to Greek theatre and its performative contexts; Aeschylus, Agamemnon and Prometheus; Sophocles, Oedipus the King and Antigone; Euripides, Medea, Hippolytus and Bacchae; Aristophanes, Women at the Thesmophoria; Aristotle, Poetics. The analysis focuses on literary genres, mythical traditions, historical and geographical contexts, modes of performance, and Aristotle’s interpretation of poetry.

By the end of the course, students are expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes.

Knowledge and understanding
Minimum passing level: knowledge of the main morphological and syntactic structures required to understand Latin texts; knowledge of the fundamental content concerning the literary and cultural construction of figures perceived as “bad” in the Roman world; knowledge of the main genres, myths, authors and contexts of archaic and classical Greek poetry, and understanding of the fundamental categories of ancient poetics.
Advanced level: secure and well-organized linguistic and literary-historical knowledge; ability to relate texts, genres, myths, performative contexts and categories such as power, identity, fear, desire, marginality and infamy.

Applying knowledge and understanding
Minimum passing level: ability to translate a Latin text with overall accuracy, recognizing its main grammatical and syntactic structures and placing it within its relevant context; ability to interpret Greek texts read in Italian translation by applying the historical, literary and theoretical knowledge acquired.
Advanced level: ability to translate and analyse Latin texts accurately and independently; compare texts, genres and traditions; consciously apply the categories of ancient poetics and historical-cultural knowledge to the interpretation of texts.

Making judgements
Minimum passing level: ability to formulate relevant observations on texts and on the main interpretations discussed, distinguishing linguistic, historical and literary evidence from critical evaluation.
Advanced level: ability to discuss the grounds, limitations and implications of different interpretations through well-founded arguments, with attention to the relationships between literary representation, moral judgement, gender, power, historical-political context and the construction of identity.

Communication skills
Minimum passing level: ability to present the material studied clearly and in an orderly manner, using disciplinary terminology correctly.
Advanced level: ability to present analyses and interpretations independently, accurately and effectively, adapting language where appropriate to non-specialist audiences and possible educational contexts.

Learning skills
Minimum passing level: ability to use texts, textbooks, critical studies, exercises and materials available on DIR to organize individual study and prepare for the examinations.
Advanced level: ability to investigate linguistic and interpretative issues independently, connect primary sources and critical studies, and apply the methods acquired to texts not examined during the course.