Anthropologica

• Anthropology of myths within Greek and Roman dramatic traditions;
• Developments of mythological plots based on fragmentary tragedies, attested by indirect tradition or incomplete trilogies;
• Literary-anthropological and philosophical readings of the lasting relationship between mythical variants on- and off-stage;
• History of the tradition of anthropological studies on ancient drama;
• Modern psychological and sociological disciplines’ contribute to the study of the anthropology of ancient drama.

 

Historica

• Historiographic analyses contributing to the study of Greek and Roman drama (esp., fragmentary drama);
• Analyses of the social functions, features and evolution of ancient (Athenian and non-Athenian) dramatic festivals;
• Studies on theatrical activity under the tyrants (Magna Graecia, Macedon, etc.);
• Use of iconographic (vases and wall-painting), epigraphic and archaeological sources in textual analyses and ancient dramatic performances.
• Researches on the architectural features and the evolution of theatrical and para-theatrical structures in the ancient age.

 

Papyrologica et Palaeographica

• Critical editions, transcriptions, interpretations, commentaries, translations, papyri and parchment notes concerning ancient fragmentary drama;
• New readings of variants and additions (sc. to dramatic works) relying on paleographic evidence;
• Studies on scholia, marginalia and hypotheseis contributing to the interpretation of Greek and Roman theatrical texts;
• Researches on the hand-written tradition of dramatic texts (production centres, copyists, etc.);
• Production contexts and use of Greek and Latin dramatic works (re-use, method of quotation, etc.).

 

Philologica

• Criticism, commentary and constitutio textus of Greek and Roman dramatic works;
• Fresh attempts to reconstruct dramatic plots (including whole trilogies/tetralogies), either fragmentary or incomplete.
• Definitions of dramatic plots attested by indirect tradition;
• New philological perspectives/analyses of controversial and ‘desperate’ passages (loci desperationis).
• Researches on minor Greek, Roman, Southern Italian and Etruscan theatrical traditions.

 

Scaenica

• Studies on the scenography of Greek and Roman drama, both complete and fragmentary;
• New scenographic considerations based on the evidence provided by internal captions, marginalia and scholia.
• Studies and researches on props, theatrical machines and costumes adopted to stage Greek and Roman drama;
• Researches on the performative aspect (voice, music, sound) of ancient spectacles;
• Researches on the audience composition and attendance during theatrical performances.

 

Traditio et Fortuna

• Studi sulla tradizione diretta e indiretta di testi drammatici frammentari tragici e comici, greci e latini;
• Indagini su ricezione, imitazione, reinterpretazione simbolica e rifiuto del patrimonio teatrale antico (testi, testimonianze) nelle epoche successive (dall’età Ellenistica a quella Medievale);
• Rapporto tra il genere drammatico e le altre discipline (storiografia, antropologia, filosofia);
• Fortuna del dramma greco-latino nelle arti e nella letteratura delle epoche successive (riscritture, citazioni, etc.).
• Considerazioni sull’apporto delle moderne tecnologie (cinema, internet, etc.) alla riproposizione e alla diffusione del dramma antico.