Ateneo - UPO

Dreams in Ancient Rome

The course enters one of the most unsettling and fascinating areas of Roman culture: dreams, where the private can become public and a night vision may turn into a portent, a diagnosis, a divine message, a literary deception, or a political tool.

Through the reading, translation, and commentary of Latin texts, the course will examine epiphanic and symbolic dreams, apparitions of the dead, nightmares, erotic dreams, dreams of illness and healing, dreams of power, and dreams of death. Alongside trust in dream divination, the course will also consider voices of scepticism and rationalistic explanations of dreaming.

One question will guide the course: for the Romans, was a dream truth, fiction, symptom, superstition, a message from the gods — or all of these at once?

Attending studentsLecture notes.Dossier of Latin texts, to be published on the DIR platform during the first week of the course, in March 2027.William V. Harris, Due son le porte dei sogni. L’esperienza onirica nel mondo antico, Roma-Bari: Laterza, 2013.Tommaso Braccini, ed., Classico attuale. L’antico nella cultura contemporanea, Roma: Carocci, 2026.Non-attending studentsDossier of Latin texts, to be published on the DIR platform during the first week of the course, in March 2027.Patricia Cox Miller, Il sogno nella tarda antichità, Roma: Jouvence, 2003.William V. Harris, Due son le porte dei sogni. L’esperienza onirica nel mondo antico, Roma-Bari: Laterza, 2013.Tommaso Braccini, ed., Classico attuale. L’antico nella cultura contemporanea, Roma: Carocci, 2026.Biagio Santorelli, Storia della lingua latina, Roma: Carocci, 2025.Andrea Cucchiarelli – Francesco Ursini, Studiare latino all’università, Roma: Carocci, 2024.Manlio Simonetti – Emanuela Prinzivalli, Storia della letteratura cristiana antica, limited to pp. 1-69, 181-264, 431-559. The indicated pages will be made available on the DIR platform.Additional volume for attending students exempt from the written testMaria Pace Pieri, La didattica del latino. Perché e come studiare lingua e civiltà dei Romani. Nuova edizione, Roma: Carocci, 2025.

The course aims to enable students to understand, through the theme of dreams in ancient Rome, some central aspects of Latin language, literature, and culture, with particular attention to the relationship between texts, narrative forms, religious beliefs, rationalistic interpretations, and historical-political contexts.The course also aims to consolidate students’ knowledge of the morphological and syntactic structures of Latin through the reading, translation, and analysis of prose and poetic texts, considered not as isolated materials, but as linguistic and literary evidence placed within specific historical, cultural, and textual contexts.A further objective of the course is to develop students’ ability to recognize, discuss, and problematize preconceived ideas about the Latin language and Roman culture, with particular reference to ancient interpretations of dreams, divination, superstition, scepticism, and the relationship between literary narrative and the construction of truth.Finally, the course aims to introduce students to the main methodological issues involved in the transmission of Latin language and literature in upper secondary education, encouraging critical reflection on the ways in which linguistic, literary, and historical-cultural contents can be presented from a teaching perspective.The course is worth 6 ECTS credits and consists of 36 hours of in-person teaching; the remaining workload consists of individual study, preparation of the texts, and critical reworking of the assigned materials.

Previous knowledge of Latin language and literature is required. The course is addressed to students enrolled in Master’s degree programmes who meet at least one of the following conditions: they have already taken modules or courses in Latin Literature during their Bachelor’s degree; they come from an upper secondary school where Latin was studied for five years; they have acquired more than 7 ECTS credits in the academic field L-FIL-LET/04 – Latin Language and Literature (now LATI-01/A).During the course, some grammatical aspects functional to the work on the texts will be revised; however, students who feel the need for more substantial revision may attend the exercises connected to the course in Latin Culture, where available, or the tutoring courses.For recurring doubts and questions, students are also invited to refer to the “Dubbi e domande frequenti” section of the lecturer’s UPOBook page, which provides analytical and detailed answers to the most common questions: https://upobook.uniupo.it/alice.borgna.No formal prerequisites are required.

The course includes lectures devoted to the historical and linguistic contextualization of the texts, their analysis, and the discussion of the main interpretative, linguistic, and teaching-related issues addressed during the course, with opportunities for discussion and exchange.Activities involving the reading, translation, and linguistic analysis of Latin texts will also be included. These activities are aimed at consolidating students’ morphological and syntactic skills, developing their ability to apply the knowledge acquired to the interpretation of texts, and encouraging their active participation.The course will use the Didattica in Rete (DIR) platform for sharing teaching materials, texts, bibliographical references, and communications relating to the course.During the course, a simulation of the written exam will be offered, in order to familiarize students with the structure of the exam and with the assessment criteria. A simulation of the oral exam will also be offered as part of the tutoring activities, allowing students to practise oral presentation, translation, and commentary on the texts. Tutoring activities will also provide targeted support for the consolidation of language skills, the review of the main morphosyntactic issues, and the organization of individual study.

Disabilities, SLD and SEN. Students with disabilities, Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) or Special Educational Needs (SEN) may request specific services and support tools by contacting the Staff for Student Careers and Services Development and Coordination and by consulting the dedicated page on the University website: https://uniupo.it/it/servizi/servizi-studenti-disabili-e-dsa.

After contacting the University Staff, students with disabilities, SLD or SEN may contact the lecturer responsible for the course in order to agree on teaching-related aspects and on any necessary adaptation of the examination procedures.
For informations on the policies adopted by this teaching unit regarding single courses, students are required to read carefully the instructions published on the lecturer’s UPOBook page: https://upobook.uniupo.it/alice.borgna.

The objectives and contents of the course take into account the provisions of Ministerial Decree 616/2017 and its annexes for the purposes of possible recognition of the 24 CFU pre-concorso for Area D, “Teaching Methodologies and Technologies”. Further information is available on the University page dedicated to the 24 CFU pre-concorso: https://disum.uniupo.it/tutto-studenti/offerta-formativa/formazione-insegnanti/24-cfu-pre-concorso.

Assessment consists of a written test and an oral examination. The written test accounts for 45% of the final grade. Passing it is required for admission to the oral examination; the two tests cannot be taken on the same exam date.The written test lasts two hours and consists of the translation, with dictionary, of a Latin text not discussed in class but comparable in style, genre and historical period to those studied during the course. It assesses the ability to apply independently morphological, syntactic and linguistic knowledge to the analysis and translation of an unseen text. It is passed when the translation shows an overall correct understanding of the text, recognition of the main morphological and syntactic structures, and a clear and coherent rendering in Italian. Serious or widespread errors that compromise understanding or reveal substantial linguistic gaps prevent the test from being passed. During the course, a simulation of the written test will be offered to familiarize students with its structure, timing and assessment criteria.The oral examination accounts for 55% of the final grade. It consists of the translation and grammatical-syntactic analysis of one passage read and translated in class, worth 60% of the oral grade. The passage must then be placed within its literary, historical, philological and cultural context, worth 40% of the oral grade. The oral examination also includes one question on each essay or book in the syllabus, to verify the completeness of preparation and the actual reading of the assigned materials.To pass the exam, students must obtain a passing grade in the written test, except in the exemption cases indicated below, and answer each part of the oral examination at least sufficiently. Exams in which it emerges that even one essay or book in the syllabus has not been read will not be considered sufficient.A passing grade requires essential understanding of Latin texts; overall correct translation; recognition of the main morphological and syntactic structures; knowledge of the main course contents; and ability to contextualize texts. Higher grades require greater accuracy in translation and linguistic analysis, ability to connect texts and issues discussed in class, appropriate disciplinary terminology and autonomy in oral presentation. Excellent grades require secure command of Latin, accurate grammatical and syntactic analysis, critical and in-depth contextualization, ability to connect linguistic, literary, historical and cultural aspects, and clear, rigorous and autonomous presentation.For the written test, students should focus on Latin morphology and syntax, translation activities carried out during the course, the written-test simulation and materials uploaded to DIR. For the oral examination, students must study the texts read and translated in class, the materials indicated in the syllabus and the reference bibliography. Tutoring activities support exam preparation and include the possibility of an oral-exam simulation.Students regularly enrolled in and attending Letteratura latina magistrale A or B are exempt from the written test if they have already taken the written test for Letteratura latina magistrale A or B from academic year 2021/2022 onwards and obtained 24/30 or higher. For these students, the oral examination accounts for 100% of the final grade and includes, in addition to the ordinary syllabus, one additional book indicated in the reference texts. The exemption never applies to non-attending students or to students taking the course as a single course.

The programme will address dreams as a literary, religious, medical, and political phenomenon in Roman culture. Prophetic dreams, symbolic dreams, apparitions of the dead, nightmares, erotic dreams, dreams of illness and healing, dreams of power, and dreams of death will be examined, with attention to the ways in which Latin texts construct the boundary between truth, fiction, portent, symptom, and superstition. The course will also analyse ancient interpretations of dreams, from divinatory readings to sceptical and rationalistic explanations, and the relationship between dream narrative, authority, memory, and the construction of truth. The gender dimension will also be considered, through the representation of dreams attributed to female figures and the ways in which, in Latin texts, dream experience may be used to construct authority, vulnerability, desire, fear, or prophetic ability in relation to gender.

Attending studentsAttending students are required to prepare:lecture notes;dossier of Latin texts, to be published on the DIR platform during the first week of the course, in March 2027;William V. Harris, Due son le porte dei sogni. L’esperienza onirica nel mondo antico, Roma-Bari: Laterza, 2013;Tommaso Braccini, ed., Classico attuale. L’antico nella cultura contemporanea, Roma: Carocci, 2026.Students are considered attending students if they have taken part in at least 75% of the classes.Non-attending studentsNon-attending students are required to prepare:dossier of Latin texts, to be published on the DIR platform during the first week of the course, in March 2027;Patricia Cox Miller, Il sogno nella tarda antichità, Roma: Jouvence, 2003;William V. Harris, Due son le porte dei sogni. L’esperienza onirica nel mondo antico, Roma-Bari: Laterza, 2013;Tommaso Braccini, ed., Classico attuale. L’antico nella cultura contemporanea, Roma: Carocci, 2026;Biagio Santorelli, Storia della lingua latina, Roma: Carocci, 2025;Andrea Cucchiarelli – Francesco Ursini, Studiare latino all’università, Roma: Carocci, 2024;Manlio Simonetti – Emanuela Prinzivalli, Storia della letteratura cristiana antica, limited to pp. 1-69, 181-264, 431-559. The indicated pages will be made available on the DIR platform.Non-attending students are strongly advised to attend an oral examination session before taking the exam, so as to become fully aware of the level of preparation required. This advice is also useful for the other categories of students.Attending students exempt from the written testStudents regularly enrolled in and attending Letteratura latina magistrale A or B who have already taken the written test for Letteratura latina magistrale A or B from the academic year 2021/2022 onwards and obtained a grade of 24/30 or higher are exempt from the written test. The exemption does not apply under any circumstances to non-attending students or to students taking the course as a single course.For exempt students, the oral examination accounts for 100% of the final grade and the exam syllabus includes, in addition to the ordinary syllabus required for attending students, the following additional volume: Maria Pace Pieri, La didattica del latino. Perché e come studiare lingua e civiltà dei Romani. Nuova edizione, Roma: Carocci, 2025.Students taking the course as a single courseAs indicated in the “Further information” section, access to the course as a single course is reserved exclusively for students who intend to attend classes.In addition to the exam syllabus, students taking the course as a single course are also required to take an oral test in Latin metre. For this category of students, the exemption from the written test does not apply under any circumstances.

At the end of the course, students must demonstrate that they have achieved the following learning outcomes.

Knowledge and understanding. For the minimum passing level, students must know and illustrate the fundamental contents of the course, with particular reference to dreams in Roman culture, their main literary and cultural forms, and the relationship between dreams, divination, religion, medicine, politics, and narrative construction. They must also demonstrate adequate knowledge of the morphological and syntactic structures of the Latin language required for the translation and understanding of the texts included in the syllabus. At an advanced level, students must demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the theme of dreams in the Roman world, being able to distinguish epiphanic and symbolic dreams, prophetic dreams, dreams of death, power, illness, and healing, as well as the different ancient interpretations of the dream phenomenon, from religious and divinatory readings to sceptical and rationalistic explanations.

Applying knowledge and understanding. For the minimum passing level, students must be able to translate a Latin text in an overall correct manner, recognizing its main grammatical and syntactic structures, and to place it within its relevant literary, historical, and cultural context. At an advanced level, students must be able to translate and analyse Latin texts with accuracy, autonomy, and interpretative awareness, relating language, literary form, historical-cultural context, and the function of the dream report within the work.

Making judgements. For the minimum passing level, students must be able to formulate critical observations on the texts studied and on their interpretations, recognizing the main issues raised by the theme of dreams in Roman culture. At an advanced level, students must be able to discuss different interpretations of the texts and assess their reasons, limits, and implications, with particular attention to the relationship between dreams, authority, belief, scepticism, literary representation, and the political use of memory.

Communication skills. For the minimum passing level, students must be able to present the contents learned in a clear and orderly manner, using appropriate disciplinary terminology and demonstrating the ability to discuss the texts without relying on rote memorization. At an advanced level, students must be able to discuss the texts and issues addressed during the course with autonomous, precise, and effective presentation, using the language of the discipline correctly and showing attention to communicative clarity also in relation to a possible teaching context.

Learning skills. For the minimum passing level, students must be able to use the Latin texts, the materials available on the DIR platform, and the exam bibliography to identify the fundamental themes of the course and organize their individual study. At an advanced level, students must demonstrate the ability to pursue autonomous study in greater depth, connecting texts, teaching materials, and critical essays, recognizing complex interpretative problems, and reworking the knowledge acquired in an argumentative form.