Universität Wien

090010 VU Latin Epigraphy: Verse inscriptions as historical sources (2022S)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 9 - Altertumswissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

The first lesson is on the 8th March 2022.

  • Tuesday 08.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 29 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Tuesday 15.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 29 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Tuesday 22.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 29 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Tuesday 29.03. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 29 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Tuesday 05.04. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 29 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Tuesday 26.04. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 29 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Tuesday 03.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 29 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Wednesday 04.05. 15:30 - 17:00 Übungsraum Alte Geschichte Hauptgebäude, Tiefparterre Stiege 2
  • Tuesday 10.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 29 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Tuesday 17.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 29 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Tuesday 24.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 29 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Tuesday 31.05. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 29 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Tuesday 14.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 29 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Tuesday 21.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 29 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7
  • Tuesday 28.06. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 29 Hauptgebäude, 1.Stock, Stiege 7

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

CONTENTS:
This course will provide a general overview on Latin Epigraphy, taking in consideration the most modern approaches and exploring the limits of the discipline.
The main focus of the units will be on verse inscriptions. This specific epigraphical “category” has traditionally been studied from a philological perspective. However, verse inscriptions provide a unique insight into the social life of the Roman world, often offering information that is absent from their prose counterparts. Thus, in this course verse inscriptions will be analysed and discussed from a historical point of view, as sources for cultural and social history.

The course will be structured thematically. Relevant topics which will be addressed in the thematic units include traditional vs. digital editions, classical Latin vs. language of the inscriptions, multilingualism, (in)visible minorities in funerary inscriptions, epigraphic dialogue with the gods and rituals, inscriptions on unusual objects, epigraphic layout and stonecutter mistakes etc. Selected verse inscriptions, which will be read and discussed during the lectures, will illustrate each aspect and provide concrete and practical examples.

The course will include a guest lecture and, if the pandemic situation allows it, an excursion and a visit to the verse squeeze collection of the Department of Ancient History.

AIM:
The aim of the course is to provide the students with a better understanding of the Latin epigraphy panorama, with a specific focus on verse inscriptions. Within the course the students will become familiar with reading epigraphic texts preserved in different forms (directly from the stone, on squeezes, casts, rubbings, via manuscript tradition, and through critical editions) and use them critically in the context of historical studies.

METHOD: This course will combine the classical frontal lecture with practical exercises on reading and interpretation of inscriptions. Epigraphic texts will be discussed and analysed in group.

Assessment and permitted materials

Regular attendance and active participation (25%), short presentation (25%), essay (50%).

Bibliography and texts treated during the lectures will be provided in digital form on the Moodle platform.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Regular attendance, preparation of the materials, and knowledge of Latin are required. Active participation and discussion will be encouraged.
The Latin texts presented in the sessions will be translated and worked on in more detail. Greek texts will be provided both in the original and in German or English translation.

Examination topics

The examination material corresponds to the teaching material.

Reading list

Recommended:
Schmidt, Manfred G. Lateinische Epigraphik. Eine Einführung. 3. Auflage. Darmstadt: wbg 2015.
Bruun, Christer, and Jonathan C. Edmondson. The Oxford Handbook of Roman Epigraphy. New York, NY: Oxford UP, 2015. Print.
Cooley, Alison. The Cambridge Manual of Latin Epigraphy. Cambridge : Cambridge UP, 2012. Web.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: We 30.03.2022 14:08