The texts of the Hebrew Bible want to trace a path in the memory of a people and of the world that lives: recent research indicates the creation of this "history" as a point of arrival and not of departure of the ancient Jewish literary tradition; different literary genres and different currents of thought contributed to this creative process. In the course we will start from the relationship between biblical narrative and history of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah (as can be reconstructed from sources and archaeology) to touch on other essential issues in the study of the scriptures: the canonical text in the light of the parallel traditions, the myth in the Bible and what functions it performs, the comparison with the historiographical traditions of the Mediterranean civilizations, both oriental and classical.
Curriculum
teacher profile teaching materials
Programme
Biblical fiction largely depicts a world inhabited and performed by men, but it also provides space for many female figures, who stand out strongly against a landscape of consistently male protagonists. The way in which these figures are portrayed is a reflection on the one hand of the authors' own worldviews and beliefs about women and their milieu, but also of more general literary and ideological choices. The analysis of these figures will cover both the biblical texts and the narrative traditions of ancient and late antique Judaism, where some minor figures in the biblical narrative (such as Joseph's wife, or Moses' adoptive mother) receive extraordinary attention, a product of new social scenarios and new reflections on the relationship with other peoples. Other topics covered in the course will be the place of the feminine in the divine, the creation of woman, and views on conception and pregnancy.Core Documentation
Notes and texts distributed during lessons.Reference Bibliography
Carol A. Newsom - Sharon H. Ringe (edd.), The Women's Bible Commentary, London 1992Type of delivery of the course
The course will be conducted mainly in the form of lectures, with some moments of active participation devoted to shared discussion of primary or secondary sources.Type of evaluation
The examination will consist of an oral interview with the teacher on the course program. teacher profile teaching materials
Programme
Biblical fiction largely depicts a world inhabited and performed by men, but it also provides space for many female figures, who stand out strongly against a landscape of consistently male protagonists. The way in which these figures are portrayed is a reflection on the one hand of the authors' own worldviews and beliefs about women and their milieu, but also of more general literary and ideological choices. The analysis of these figures will cover both the biblical texts and the narrative traditions of ancient and late antique Judaism, where some minor figures in the biblical narrative (such as Joseph's wife, or Moses' adoptive mother) receive extraordinary attention, a product of new social scenarios and new reflections on the relationship with other peoples. Other topics covered in the course will be the place of the feminine in the divine, the creation of woman, and views on conception and pregnancy.Core Documentation
Notes and texts distributed during lessons.Reference Bibliography
Carol A. Newsom - Sharon H. Ringe (edd.), The Women's Bible Commentary, London 1992Type of delivery of the course
The course will be conducted mainly in the form of lectures, with some moments of active participation devoted to shared discussion of primary or secondary sources.Type of evaluation
The examination will consist of an oral interview with the teacher on the course program.