The didactic purpose of the Ph.D. in Philology and Ancient History is to provide an interdisciplinary education, aiming to train students to rigorously read and interpret ancient texts, both literary and epigraphic, from the West and East Mediterranean as well as the Near and Middle East, and instil them with a full understanding of the cultural, political, economic and social history of the ancient Greek, Roman and Near- Eastern world. The course lasts three years. The Ph.D. has three different curricula: Curriculum A) GREEK AND LATIN PHILOLOGY - coordinator: Gianfranco AGOSTI The Greek and Latin Philology program provides specialist training in the techniques of textual and literary criticism. Teaching covers ancient texts from the earliest Mycenaean tablets to late antique and mediaeval authors, including Jewish texts and translations of the Old Testament. Curriculum B) ANCIENT HISTORY - coordinator: Pietro VANNICELLI The Ancient History program provides students with research skills in interdisciplinary approaches to the history, cultures and civilizations of the Greek and Roman worlds. Students are trained in a wide range of methodologies, in order to to acquire philological skills and expertise in the disciplines of ancient history, including epigraphy, archaeology and papyrology. Curriculum C) NEAR- AND MIDDLE-EAST PHILOLOGY - coordinator: Alberto CAMPLANI The Philology of Near- and Middle East Texts program is designed for students working on texts from Mesopotamia, Anatolia, Iran, Egypt and adjacent areas (the Syrian-Palestinian coast, central Asia) from the fourth millennium BCE to the Middle Ages. It provides specialized training in philology, epigraphy and linguistic skills.