Educational goals

The Master's degree programme in Classical and Oriental Antiquities (LM) is designed to provide specialised training for graduates in ancient Greek, Roman and Near Eastern civilisations, including those from pre-classical Mesopotamia, Anatolia and Syria. Graduates will have a strong scientific background and advanced theoretical and methodological expertise in philology, history, languages and literatures of ancient civilisations, as well as their reception in the modern and contemporary periods. Consequently, they will be able to interpret relevant literary, historical, cultural and material data correctly, using appropriate and up-to-date tools and with critical awareness. This will enable them to pursue professional careers related to the subjects of the course, such as research, dissemination, empowerment and promotion of knowledge on ancient Mediterranean cultures. The training comprises a wide range of advanced courses, including both face-to-face and seminar-based courses to be organised with a view to providing a solid foundation in antiquarian studies while achieving more specific and advanced educational objectives. In relation to the various subjects set out in the curricula, the course aims to (i) equip Master's degree students with the scientific tools necessary for the linguistic, philological, and historical and literary review of ancient Greek and Latin texts, and to guide them towards a conscious and in-depth critical interpretation of literary texts from classical antiquity; (ii) have students become familiar with the key developments in the reception of classical texts and studies in the modern and contemporary era, as well as their transmission across Europe; (iii) provide students with specialised methodology and in-depth knowledge of the political, religious, and social and economic history of the Greco-Roman world through the study of classical epigraphic and historiographical sources; (iv) provide students with the tools to interpret the issues pertaining to the history, society, religions, and cultures of the ancient Near East (Anatolia, Syria, and Mesopotamia) in the pre-classical period in an independent and original way using primary sources, both epigraphic and material. Graduates will be able to locate and critically evaluate sources, rely on international bibliographies relating to ancient sciences, and use the main digital tools and telecommunications technologies in this field. Graduates of the Master's degree will also gain advanced knowledge of at least one European Union language, in addition to Italian, and will be able to read almost all foreign-language bibliography related to their field of expertise. To achieve these objectives, the training programme begins with advanced language, literature and history courses on Greek and Roman civilisations and the ancient Near East. It then opens up to options that allow students to specialise in different areas, always within a well-defined and comprehensive framework, including (i) classical philology and literature, with insights into specific chronological and thematic areas of Greek and Roman literary civilisations, with a focus on their reception; (ii) history, which focuses particularly on the critique of material and immaterial sources, and on the connections between the Greek, Roman and Near Eastern worlds; (iii) Oriental matters, with a special focus on micro-Asian civilisations and ancient Egypt, in terms of their historical identity, and in relation to each other and to the Greek and Roman civilisations.

Career opportunities

Scholar of Greek, Roman and Near Eastern antiquities. The theoretical, methodological, critical, exegetical and communicative skills acquired during the Master's degree in Classical and Oriental Antiquities prepare students for (i) teaching roles in upper secondary schools, provided they complete the relevant training in accordance with current regulations; (ii) research opportunities at universities and institutions engaging in such activities; (iii) management roles in libraries, superintendent's offices, archives and museums; (iv) senior professional roles in training, promotion, organisation, information, publishing, communication and cultural tourism; (v) roles in the translation, commentary and interpretation of ancient texts; and (vi) a career in journalism. Graduates in Classical and Oriental Antiquities will be able to gain access to professional activities in schools, universities, research institutions, public authorities, local authorities, foundations, cultural institutions in Italy and abroad, publishing houses and private enterprises engaged in the recovery, preservation, enhancement and dissemination of ancient cultural knowledge.

Admission requirements

For admission to the Master’s programme, students must hold a bachelor’s degree (which may be a bachelor’s degree obtained according to the regulations in force prior to Ministerial Decree 509/1999 and subsequent amendments and supplements) or a bachelor degree, or another academic title obtained abroad, recognised by the relevant bodies of the University. Admission also requires fulfilment of the curricular requirements listed below, as well as evidence of the student's adequate personal background in the sciences of antiquity, most notably ancient historical, classical and philological, linguistic and literary disciplines. A sound knowledge of Italian literature and the history of the Italian language is also required. The procedures for establishing whether a student's background is adequate are set out in the Teaching Regulations. To be admitted to the Master's degree programme, students must have acquired at least 60 CFUs in the following scientific disciplines: STAN-01/A (L-ANT/02), STAN-01/B (L-ANT/03) , ARCH- 01/D (L-ANT/07), HELL-01/B (L-FIL-LET/02), LATI-01/A (L-FIL-LET/04), FICP-01/A (L-FIL-LET/05), ITAL-01/A (L- FIL-LET/10), LIFI-01/A (L-FIL-LET/12), GLOT-01/A (L- LIN/01), STAA-01/A (L-OR/01) (or related fields in STAA, formerly L-OR: L-OR/02, L-OR/03; L-OR/04; L-OR/05; L- OR/07; L-OR/08), GEOG-01/A (M-GGR/01), HIST-01/A (M-STO/01), of which: - for the classical philological and literary curriculum, at least 9 CFUs in the HELL-01/B (L-FIL-LET/02) area + 9 CFUs in the LATI-01/A (L-FILLET/ 04) area - for the history curriculum, at least 9 CFUs in STAN-01/B (L-ANT/03) + 9 CFUs in STAN-01/A (L- ANT/02) - for the Orientalist curriculum, at least 9 CFUs in the STAA-01/A (L-OR/01) and/or other related STAA (L-OR) areas stated above.