Research program
Interpreting and communicating. School traditions in the Latin literature produced between III and VI century A.D.
University Co-ordinator
Università degli Studi di NAPOLI "Federico II" -
DISCIPLINE STORICHE - NAPOLI(NA)
Research Unit Leader
Teresa PISCITELLI
Description
Various and complementary interests and competency of the proponents include many aspects of Ancient Christian Literature, beginning with Bible exegesis and going on to hagiography, from rhetoric to poetry; but each find their unity and basis in the historical-philological method, attention being paid to the critical construction of the Greek and Latin texts, both in the global interpretation in the sphere of ancient culture and in relating to the cultural tradition that followed. In particular a scientific interest is reserved for the methods of analysis which use all available instruments of classical rhetoric so that the decoding is aimed at interpreting the texts, that, similar to the Christian ones which are object of our study, are characterized by many cultural stratifications which make the systems of transmission extremely complex. The Christian message, new in its substance, uses all traditional means of composition and transmission. The proponents, in the methodological unity and in the synchronous choice of the field of study, therefore propose as their principal aim in their research some authors and works regarding the types of literature and relating circles of the above mentioned, primarily belonging to the III-V centuries, also following previous personal lines of research done in connection with other Italian researchers.The works of Origen offer many possibilities for a critical approach through the analysis of exegetic texts in the Latin translation, apart from the original version, which stimulate the exploration of numerous problems of various natures. In Latin circles the vast problematic nature, that was emphasized after the discussion on free will and gratia, offers numerous analytic possibilities on the doctrine of Augustine, Pelagio and Fausto of Riez. In particular a study on the relationship between freedom and gratia relating to the figure of Fausto of Riez is to be published, based on the exegesis of Rom 6,23 (stipendium peccati mors) elaborated by him in de gratia. The hagiographical interest will be directed to the figure of Paolino di Nola and to Uranio, his disciple. Regarding the study of the cult of saints and the hagiography, of which Paolino is an important representative of the late ancient period, it will try to emphasize the representation of holiness especially in the carmina natalicia, as well as the varied and complex cultural phenomenon documentated by the author. A particular object of study will be the de obitu Paolini by Uranio, a work of which a modern critical version and a thorough study are still not available even in this present day. It is considered an important document because of its Neapolitan and Campania region hagiography. Studies on the poetical production: reading matter, with translation and comments on the work by Giovenco allow to perceive the peculiarity of the biblical epos, the work being on the border line between the traditional classic epic and Christian exegesis literature, and also to determine the presence of a real and true paraphrastic technique. Having eliminated prejudice from the field that had involved this type of work and that had reflected its effect on Giovenco, his works and biblical paraphrases can now be accepted as part of both currents, the classic and the Christian, in a relationship of continual dialectical exchanges, without exhausting either subject in the two categories. The introduction, translation and comment of the Evangeliorium Libri by Giovenco are soon to be published.
|
