Admission requirements
Regular MA admission requirements.
Description
This course encompasses the study of literary, epigraphical and archaeological sources for the cultural history of communities writing in Aramaic. The precise topic varies from year to year. In 2014-2015 the subject of this course will be Jewish Magical Texts from Late Antiquity and the early Middle Ages. In this course students will be introduced into the vast world of Jewish magic as manifest in texts from Late Antiquity and the early Middle Ages. Aramaic is – together with Hebrew – an important language for the Jewish magical tradition. In addition to general literature on magic and Jewish magic in particular, students will read magical texts from Late Antiquity (amulets and magical bowls) and the Early Middle Ages (in particular materials from the Cairo Geniza). These texts will be read in the original languages, Aramaic and Hebrew.
Course objectives
Upon completion of this course, students will be familiar with important issues related to the Jewish magical tradition – such as the role of the Hebrew Bible in Jewish Magic and the Rabbinic attitude towards magical practices – and will be able to study original Jewish magical texts from late Late Antiquity and the early Middle Ages.
Timetable
Please consult the timetable on the Classics and Ancient Civilizations website
Mode of instruction
Lecture and seminar
Course Load
280 hours (10 ec):
28 hours in class
78 hours of class preparation
54 hours for the preparation of the oral presentation
120 hours for the writing of the paper
Assessment method
Assessment and grading method (in percentages):
Oral presentation (40%) and paper (60%).
To complete the final mark, please take notice of the following: the final grade for the course is established by determining the weighted average.
Blackboard
Not applicable. Documents will be exchanged through Dropbox.
Reading list
The reading list will be handed out during the first class.
Registration
Students are required to register for this course via uSis, the course registration system of Leiden University.
“General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch.
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Registration Studeren à la carte
Registration Contractonderwijs
Contact
Remarks
The course will be taught in Dutch or English, depending on the first language of participating students.