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79477-01 - Seminar: Roman Religions and Evidence in the High Empire (3 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers | Marco Maiuro (marco.maiuro@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | The seminar intends to explore some key texts relative to the religious life of an ancient Metropolis, i.e. Ephesus, during the I c. AD. It will be based, first and foremost, on the close reading of some important literary and epigraphic documents, that will be translated and commented in class. The relation between social history, religious history and history of rituals, and the topography and the archaeology of the city of Ephesus will be explored. Particularly importance will be conferred to the reading and interpretation of the preaching of Paul in Ephesus, and on the contents and context of Acts, 19. |
| Learning objectives | y the end of the seminar, students will be able to critically analyze key literary and epigraphic sources on the religious life of first-century CE Ephesus, assess their historical significance through close reading and source criticism, relate textual evidence to the city's social, religious, topographical, and archaeological context, and develop independent, evidence-based historical arguments on the interaction between religion, society, and urban life in one of the principal metropoleis of the Roman Empire. |
| Bibliography | Some bibliographical leads will be offered in class, together with the full package of literary and epigraphic texts to be dealt with in the course. |
| Comments | The course is a three-day workshop (7-9 October 2026). |
| Language of instruction | German |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Course auditors welcome |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| einmalig | See individual dates | ||
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 07.10.2026 | 09.15-17.00 | --, -- |
| Thursday 08.10.2026 | 09.15-17.00 | --, -- |
| Friday 09.10.2026 | 09.15-17.00 | --, -- |
| Modules |
Modul: Alternative Religionsgeschichte (Master's degree subject: Science of Religion) Modul: Antike / monotheistische / aussereuropäische Religionen (Bachelor's degree subject: Study of Religion) Modul: Aufbau Alte Geschichte (Bachelor's degree subject: History) Modul: Epochen der europäischen Geschichte: Alte Geschichte (Master's degree program: European History in Global Perspective) Modul: Kulturtechnische Dimensionen (Master's degree program: Cultural Techniques) Modul: Römische Geschichte BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Ancient Civilizations) Modul: Römische Geschichte BA (Bachelor's degree program: Ancient Civilizations) Modul: Römische Geschichte MA (Master's degree subject: Ancient History) Modul: Theorie und Methoden der Alten Geschichte (Bachelor's degree subject: Ancient Civilizations) Modul: Theorie und Methoden der Alten Geschichte (Bachelor's degree program: Ancient Civilizations) Modul: Vertiefung in Alter Geschichte (Master's degree subject: Ancient History) Modul: Vertiefung in Altertumswissenschaften (Bachelor's degree subject: Ancient Civilizations) Modul: Vertiefung in Altertumswissenschaften (Bachelor's degree program: Ancient Civilizations) Modul: Vertiefung in Geschichte und Altertumswissenschaften BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Ancient Civilizations) Modul: Vertiefung in Geschichte und Altertumswissenschaften BA (Bachelor's degree program: Ancient Civilizations) Modul: Vertiefung in Geschichte und Altertumswissenschaften MA (Master's degree subject: Ancient History) Wahlbereich Master Geschichte: Empfehlungen (Master's degree subject: History) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Alte Geschichte |