LJ252 Master's Interpretative Seminar II

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2024
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Daniela Urbanová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Daniela Urbanová, Ph.D.
Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Jitka Erlebachová
Supplier department: Department of Classical Studies – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Wed 12:00–13:40 A24, except Wed 17. 4.
Prerequisites (in Czech)
PROGRAM(N-LJ_) || PROGRAM(N-LJU_) || LJBcSZk Bachelor's State Exam
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 6 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
Roman amorous life in magical context - ad fontes. The aim of the course is to introduce students to the reflection of ancient magical rites (love charms) and witchcraft topoi in the works of Roman poets – Propertius I, 1; Vergilius Ecl. 8; Horatius Ep. 5, a 17; Sat. I 8; Tibullus I 2; Ovidius Am. II 1, a III, 7.; with focus on ancient testimonies of magical rites related with love ie.: with Greek magical papyri (in English or German translation); with lead tablets known as defixiones amatorie, which might have been accompanied by figures made of wax or clay, called in Greek kolossoi and finally with magical gems.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students should be able to: translate poems of the below mentioned authors, discuss and interpret them in broader context, not only from linguistic, literary or stylistic point of view but confront them also with other types of epigraphical and archaeological evidence (curse tablets, gemms, colossoi, PGM. – Propertius I, 1; Vergilius Ecl. 8; Horatius Ep. 5, a 17; Sat. I 8; Tibullus I 2; Ovidius Am. II 1, a III, 7
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction - unrequited love in antiquity - (love is a disease) in cultural and historical context.
  • 2. Interpretation of Propertius I 1 – sceptic view contra belief in charms. Topos of the witch in roman literature.
  • 3. Interpretation of Tibullus I 2 – everything can be done by charms.
  • 4. Introduction to the Greek magical papyri – philtrokatadesmos thaumastos.
  • 5. Vergil Ecl. 8 – Confrontation with Theocritos; sorcerous scene. 6. Comparative analysis of magical prescriptions in PGM with Vergils poem.
  • 7. Latin love charms on lead tablets.
  • 8. Accompanying rites – magical figurines kolossoi.
  • 9. Ovid, love potions, psychological elements.
  • 10. Magical gems with love charms.
  • 11. Horace – Ep. 5, a 17; Sat. I 8; Canidia macabre scenes.
Literature
    required literature
  • Básně. 1, Ódy; Epody; Píseň stoletní [Horatius Flaccus, 1922] (Variant.) : Překlad Hoffmeistrova vydání Básní Q. Horatia Flacca. D. 1, Ody; Epody; Píseň stoletní. info
  • CATULLUS, Gaius Valerius, Albius TIBULLUS and Sextus PROPERTIUS. Pěvci lásky. Translated by Otakar Smrčka. Ve 3. vyd. (ve Svobodě 1.). Praha: Svoboda, 1973, 429 s. info
    recommended literature
  • MAURACH, Gregor. Lateinische Dichtersprache. Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, 1995, xxi, 289. ISBN 3534128117. info
  • HORATIUS, Quintus Flaccus. Des Q. Horatius Flaccus Oden und Epoden. Edited by Carl Wilhelm Nauck. 6. Aufl. Leipzig: B.G. Teubner, 1868, xv, 256. info
    not specified
  • URBANOVÁ, Daniela. Latinské proklínací tabulky na území římského impéria (Latin Curse Tablets on the Territory of the Roman Empire). 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2014, 444 pp. ISBN 978-80-210-6784-4. info
  • HEYWORTH, S. J. A commentary on Propertius. Edited by James Morwood. 1st pub. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011, xi, 377. ISBN 9780199571499. info
  • NEWMAN, John Kevin. Horace as outsider. Hildesheim: Georg Olms, 2011, x, 516. ISBN 9783487145723. info
  • A companion to Horace. Edited by Gregson Davis. 1st pub. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010, xiv, 464. ISBN 9781405155403. info
  • GIBSON, Roy K. Excess and restraint : Propertius, Horace and Ovid's Ars Amatoria. 1st pub. London: Institute of Classical Studies, School of Advanced study, University of London, 2007, ix, 168. ISBN 9781905670024. info
  • Brill's companion to Propertius. Edited by Hans-Christian Günther. Leiden: Brill, 2006, ix, 476. ISBN 9004136827. info
  • WATSON, Lindsay. A commentary on Horace’s Epodes. 1st publ. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003, xvii, 604. ISBN 0199253242. info
  • Papyri Graecae magicae. Edited by Albert Henrichs, Translated by Karl Preisendanz. Unveränderter Nachdruck der. München: K.G. Saur, 2001, xiv, 200. ISBN 3598742762. info
  • LEE-STECUM, Parshia. Powerplay in Tibullus : reading Elegies book one. 1st pub. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998, xii, 328. ISBN 0521630835. info
  • PROPERTIUS, Sextus. The elegies of Propertius. Translated by E. H. W. Meyerstein. London: Oxford University Press, 1935, 193 s. info
Teaching methods
Lectures (reading, translation and interpretation of texts). Homework is required.The student use also an e-learning course in elf https://elf.phil.muni.cz/elf3/course/view.php?id=3354
Assessment methods
Active participation in lectures (class discussions of assigned texts and research papers). Presentation and defence of a seminar paper (text analysis); upon agreement the paper can be prepared collectively.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught once in two years.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2022.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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