Università Roma Tre

First semester.
Hours: 6 hours/week: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, from 12 to 14 h, Sala riunioni di Mondo Antico.
Beginning of the course: Monday 9 October 2023.

Course title 2023-2024: The "Protogospel of James" and its transformations.

Traditions about the birth and infancy of Jesus are found not only in canonical gospels (Matthew, Luke), but also in apocryphal writings, which are interesting for their content and transmission phenomena, typical of texts that do not have a status of authority. In the course, one of the oldest works will be explored in depth, according to various perspectives of investigation, and with the active involvement of students: the Nativity of Mary, better known as the Protogospel of James, from which descends the Gospel "of the Pseudo-Matthew," fundamental in the West for piety about the Virgin's childhood and the Lord's birth.
The course has a seminar character and involves the active participation of students.

Lecture materials (including critical editions of texts read in class) will be provided by the teacher.

General section.
For students who have never taken an exam in Ancient Christian Literature: M. SIMONETTI - E. PRINZIVALLI, Storia della letteratura cristiana antica, Bologna: EDB, 2022.
For students who have already taken exams in Ancient Christian Literature: H.Y. GAMBLE, Libri e lettori nella chiesa antica, Brescia: Paideia, 2006.