Archaeological Sciences

The course offers an introduction to the study of the Akkadian language, with particular focus on the Old Babylonian dialect, and aims to provide students with the skills necessary to approach the linguistic analysis of original texts in an informed manner. The course is structured in three main sections: 1) Cuneiform writing and transliteration techniques: students will be introduced to the fundamental principles of cuneiform script, the history of its decipherment, and the current conventions for transliteration, transcription, and translation; 2) Basic Akkadian grammar: the main phonological, morphological, and syntactic features of Akkadian will be examined, with special attention to nominal and verbal structures; 3) Reading and linguistic analysis of Akkadian texts: throughout the course, theoretical instruction will be complemented by practical exercises on texts in transliteration (simple sentences, contracts, letters, legal clauses). Students will be guided in reading, translating, and grammatically and syntactically analyzing the texts. The course follows a gradual progression and aims to integrate linguistic learning with the historical and cultural contextualization of the materials, encouraging active and reflective student participation.

No prior knowledge or prerequisites are required. However, since the course involves progressive reading, analysis, and translation activities, regular attendance is strongly recommended.

Introductory reading: L. Verderame, Introduzione alle culture dell’antica Mesopotamia, Milano: Mondadori Education, 2017. Grammar textbook: F. D’Agostino – M. S. Cingolo – G. Spada, La lingua di Babilonia, Milano: Hoepli, 2016. Supplementary materials: Sign lists and glossaries will be provided in PDF format during the course.

All the material used during the classes (PDF of each lesson, exercises, handouts) will be made available to students through the platform “Classroom”. Students will be assigned homework which will be commented, discussed, and corrected in class.

Attendance is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended due to the progressive nature of the course. In-class activities—such as guided and collective analysis of texts—represent a key component of the learning process. All teaching materials will nevertheless be made available on the Moodle platform, to allow non-attending students to follow the course independently.

The final assessment will consist of an oral exam aimed at verifying the student’s acquisition of grammatical knowledge and translation skills developed throughout the course. The exam will include: - Theoretical questions on the main features of Akkadian grammar (phonology, morphology, syntax); - Practical linguistic exercises involving the reading, translation, and grammatical-syntactic analysis of transliterated phrases and texts discussed in class. All exam materials and exercises will have been previously covered in class and made available on the Moodle platform, with accompanying translations and analyses. The exam will not include new or unfamiliar content. Non-attending students can fully prepare using the course materials provided. The exam is designed to assess: - knowledge of the grammatical foundations of the Akkadian language; - the ability to apply such knowledge to the linguistic analysis of texts; - accuracy in translation and identification of morphosyntactic structures; - clarity of exposition and appropriate use of linguistic terminology.

Verb paradigms, sign list, and glossary will also be drawn from: J. Huehnergard, A Grammar of Akkadian (Third Edition), Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbrauns, 2011. (PDFs of the relevant sections will be provided to students for class use).

Lectures will be delivered in a traditional frontal format and will be accompanied by in-class practical exercises aimed at progressively building the linguistic skills required to read and analyze Akkadian texts. Students will be guided through examples and group exercises to understand the main features of Akkadian phonology, morphology, and syntax, as well as the basics of transliteration and transcription. All course materials (PDFs, exercises, and handouts) will be made available through the Moodle platform.

The course offers an introduction to the study of the Akkadian language, with particular focus on the Old Babylonian dialect, and aims to provide students with the skills necessary to approach the linguistic analysis of original texts in an informed manner. The course is structured in three main sections: 1) Cuneiform writing and transliteration techniques: students will be introduced to the fundamental principles of cuneiform script, the history of its decipherment, and the current conventions for transliteration, transcription, and translation; 2) Basic Akkadian grammar: the main phonological, morphological, and syntactic features of Akkadian will be examined, with special attention to nominal and verbal structures; 3) Reading and linguistic analysis of Akkadian texts: throughout the course, theoretical instruction will be complemented by practical exercises on texts in transliteration (simple sentences, contracts, letters, legal clauses). Students will be guided in reading, translating, and grammatically and syntactically analyzing the texts. The course follows a gradual progression and aims to integrate linguistic learning with the historical and cultural contextualization of the materials, encouraging active and reflective student participation.

No prior knowledge or prerequisites are required. However, since the course involves progressive reading, analysis, and translation activities, regular attendance is strongly recommended.

Introductory reading: L. Verderame, Introduzione alle culture dell’antica Mesopotamia, Milano: Mondadori Education, 2017. Grammar textbook: F. D’Agostino – M. S. Cingolo – G. Spada, La lingua di Babilonia, Milano: Hoepli, 2016. Supplementary materials: Sign lists and glossaries will be provided in PDF format during the course.

All the material used during the classes (PDF of each lesson, exercises, handouts) will be made available to students through the platform “Classroom”. Students will be assigned homework which will be commented, discussed, and corrected in class.

Attendance is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended due to the progressive nature of the course. In-class activities—such as guided and collective analysis of texts—represent a key component of the learning process. All teaching materials will nevertheless be made available on the Moodle platform, to allow non-attending students to follow the course independently.

The final assessment will consist of an oral exam aimed at verifying the student’s acquisition of grammatical knowledge and translation skills developed throughout the course. The exam will include: - Theoretical questions on the main features of Akkadian grammar (phonology, morphology, syntax); - Practical linguistic exercises involving the reading, translation, and grammatical-syntactic analysis of transliterated phrases and texts discussed in class. All exam materials and exercises will have been previously covered in class and made available on the Moodle platform, with accompanying translations and analyses. The exam will not include new or unfamiliar content. Non-attending students can fully prepare using the course materials provided. The exam is designed to assess: - knowledge of the grammatical foundations of the Akkadian language; - the ability to apply such knowledge to the linguistic analysis of texts; - accuracy in translation and identification of morphosyntactic structures; - clarity of exposition and appropriate use of linguistic terminology.

Verb paradigms, sign list, and glossary will also be drawn from: J. Huehnergard, A Grammar of Akkadian (Third Edition), Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbrauns, 2011. (PDFs of the relevant sections will be provided to students for class use).

Lectures will be delivered in a traditional frontal format and will be accompanied by in-class practical exercises aimed at progressively building the linguistic skills required to read and analyze Akkadian texts. Students will be guided through examples and group exercises to understand the main features of Akkadian phonology, morphology, and syntax, as well as the basics of transliteration and transcription. All course materials (PDFs, exercises, and handouts) will be made available through the Moodle platform.