Italy and Roman Provinces B

Teacher(s)

Cavalieri Marco;

Language

French

Prerequisites

/

Main themes

The course discusses problematic issues and specific problems of interpretation in relation with use of archaeological sources for the reconstruction of social and political relations of Rome, since its fundation (8th century BC) up to the High Middle Age, Italy and Roman provinces. Especially considered are elements of urbanism, architecture and construction techniques in order to define a scheme of the Roman way of life throughout the ages.

Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	Advanced course for archaeologists specializing in Roman archaeology both of Italy, the center of power, and the provinces of the Empire. The aim is to develop a critical sense and apply methods of analysis of art (painting, sculpture and architecture) and material culture of this millennium long civilization reluctant of all standardized analytical approach. Use of theoretical and anthropological concepts in archaeological interpretation as well of literary and epigraphical sources of Latin Antiquity.

Content

The main topic to be treated during the year 2019-2020 is the “Egyptian Cults in Italy and The Roman Provinces”.
The course discusses a major religious phenomenon in the Roman World: the spread of the Egyptian (or “Isiac”) Cults in Italy and the Roman Provinces (1st century BC – 4th century AD). As a polymorphic goddess, Isis is one of the most important deities in the Roman World. Serapis, Harpocrates, Anubis, Apis and other gods accompany her. In the light of multiple approaches, the study of this phenomenon needs an interdisciplinary methodology using Archaeology, Story of Religions and other disciplines of the “Sciences of Antiquity”. The documentation is enormous: the evidence brings together ruins of temples, various types of objects (sculptures, reliefs, paintings, coins, jewellery), inscriptions and ancient texts. The course aims at understanding the spatiotemporal limits of this religious phenomenon by studying the archaeological evidence. Our attention will focus on the Isiac deities and their sanctuaries in Italy and the Roman Provinces. We will discuss the factors associated with the spread of the Isiac Cults and also its agents, rites and religious practices.

Teaching methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

A combination of ex-cathedra lessons by the teacher or invited speakers and seminars.
The sessions can will be prepared by the students on the basis of one or more articles of which the list is given at the beginning of the year.
The students are also invited to participate actively in certain sessions which may take the forms of seminars.

Evaluation methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

Written examination.

Online resources

Pdf of Course and bibliography.

Bibliography

Bricault L., 2001. Atlas de la diffusion des cultes isiaques, Paris (Mémoires de l’Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, 23). 
Bricault L., 2005. Recueil des inscriptions concernant les cultes isiaques (RICIS), 3 vols, Paris (Mémoires de l’Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, 31).
http://ricis.huma-num.fr/index.html 
Bricault L., 2013. Les cultes isiaques dans le monde gréco-romain, Paris.
Dunand, F. 2000. Isis. Mère des dieux, Paris. 
Malaise, M. 2005. Pour une terminologie et une analyse des cultes isiaques, Bruxelles. 
Takacs S. A., 1995. Isis and Sarapis in the roman world, Leyde (Religions in the Graeco-Roman World, 124). 
Turcan, R. 2014. Les cultes orientaux dans le monde romain, Paris, 3e éd.

Faculty or entity

ARKE