CODE | LAS1076 | ||||||
TITLE | The Underground Christian Monuments: Decoration and Inscriptions | ||||||
UM LEVEL | I - Introductory Level | ||||||
MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||
ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||
DEPARTMENT | Centre for the Liberal Arts and Sciences | ||||||
DESCRIPTION | The study-unit will focus mainly on underground Christian monuments found in Italy and Malta coming from the second to the eighth century. An analysis of the various forms of decorative content (iconography, sculpture, architecture, epigraphs) will be the main subject of this study-unit, following a brief introduction of how these underground monuments came to be formed, what was their original use and how eventually they came to be abandoned or used for other needs. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Classify the different art forms present in these monuments; - Compare and contrast different motifs; - Explain the symbolism found therein. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - interpret the meaning of various compositions centering on the same theme; - assess and read the different forms of epigraphy found in these monuments; - appraise ancient Christian heritage in its original context and in its later uses. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Suggested Readings: - Mario Buhagiar, Essays on the Archaeological and Ancient History of the Maltese Islands (Malta: Midsea Books, 2014) Available at the Melitensia Special Collection MZ9 - Becker Erich, Malta Sotteranea. Studies of its Early Christian and Jewish Sepulchral Art, translated by Katrin Fenech (Malta: Midsea Books, 2009) Available at Available at the Melitensia Special Collection MZ9 - Vincenzo Fiocchi Nicolai et al, Le Catacombe Cristiane di Roma (Regensburg: Schnell & Steiner, 1998) Available at General Library DG807.4 .F5 |
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STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Fieldwork | ||||||
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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LECTURER/S | Keith Buhagiar Jonathan Farrugia |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |