NEW COURSE
ANE 131 / HDS 4215 – The Greek of the Septuagint
Semester: Spring
Offered: 2026
Instructor: Vladimir Olivero
Meeting Time: W 3:00-5:00pm
This course is designed to equip students with the fundamental tools necessary to read and conduct research on the Septuagint. After an introduction to the field of Septuagint studies in general, and to the language of the Septuagint in particular, we will examine various aspects of its Greek in each session—for example, its relationship to the language of papyri, inscriptions, and Classical and Hellenistic Greek literature.
We will then turn to the study of translation techniques and stylistic features in different sections of the Septuagint (Pentateuch, Historical Books, Psalms, Proverbs and Job, Prophets, Isaiah, and the Deuterocanonical books). In discussing these translation methods and distinctive features, we will also consider the text-critical significance of the Septuagint and its relationship to the Hebrew source texts.
Finally, one session will be devoted to the so-called “daughter versions” of the Septuagint (e.g., the Vetus Latina, Coptic, Ethiopic, Armenian, Georgian, and Syrohexapla), exploring their distinctive profiles and contributions to the textual tradition.
Recommended Prep: Knowledge of Ancient Greek.
Jointly Offered with: Harvard Divinity School as HDS 4215
For more details please visit the Harvard Course Catalog.