The Oxford Handbook of Roman Epigraphy

by Christer Bruun, Jonathan Edmondson

Overview

Epigraphy, or the study of inscriptions, is critical for anyone seeking to understand the Roman world, whether they regard themselves as literary scholars, historians, archaeologists, anthropologists, religious scholars or work in a field that touches on the Roman world from c. 500 BCE to 500 CE and beyond. The Oxford Handbook of Roman Epigraphy is the fullest collection of scholarship on the study and history of Latin epigraphy produced to date. Rather that just a collection of inscriptions, however, this volume seeks to show why inscriptions matter and demonstrate to classicists and ancient historians how to work with the sources. To that end, the 35 chapters, written by senior and rising scholars in Roman history, classics, and epigraphy, cover everything from typograph to the importance of inscriptions for understanding many aspects of Roman culture, from Roman public life, to slavery, to the roles and lives of women, to the military, and to life in the provinces. Students and scholars alike will find the Handbook a crritical tool for expanding their knowledge of the Roman world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195336467
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	11/19/2014
Series:	Oxford Handbooks
Pages:	928
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.80(h) x 1.80(d)

About the Author

Christer Bruun is Professor of Classics at the University of Toronto.

Jonathan Edmondson is Professor of History at York University.

Table of Contents

Preface
List of Contributors
Abbreviations
Map 1. Italy
Map 2. The Roman Empire under M. Aurelius and Commodus

PART I Roman Epigraphy: Introduction and History of the Discipline
1. The Epigrapher at Work, Christer Bruun & Jonathan Edmondson
2. Epigraphic Research since its Inception: Epigraphic Manuscripts, Marco Buonocore
3. Forgeries and Fakes, Silvia Orlandi, Maria Letizia Caldelli, & Gian Luca Gregori
4. The Major Corpora and Epigraphic Publications, Christer Bruun
5. Epigraphy and Digital Resources, Thomas Elliott

PART II Inscriptions in the Roman World
6. Latin Epigraphy: The Main Types of Inscriptions, Francisco Beltrán Lloris
7. Inscribing Roman Texts: officinae, layout, and carving techniques, Jonathan Edmondson
8. The Epigraphic Habit in the Roman World, Francisco Beltrán Lloris

PART III The Value of Inscriptions for Reconstructing the Roman World
Inscriptions and Roman Public Life
9. The Roman Republic, Olli Salomies
10. The Roman Emperor and the Imperial Family, Frédéric Hurlet
11. Senators and Equites: Prosopography, Christer Bruun
12. Local Elites in Italy and the Western Provinces, Henrik Mouritsen
13. Local Elites in the Greek East, Christof Schuler
14. Government and Administration, Christer Bruun
15. Laws, Lawmaking, and Legal Documents, Greg Rowe
16. The Roman Army, Michael A. Speidel
17. Roman History and Inscriptions: Political and Military Events, David Potter
18. Late Antiquity, Benet Salway
Inscriptions and Religion in the Roman Empire
19. Religion in Rome and Italy, Mika Kajava
20. Religion in the Roman Provinces, James Rives
21. The Rise of Christianity, Danilo Mazzoleni
Inscriptions and Roman Social and Economic Life
22. The City of Rome, Christer Bruun
23. Social Life in Town and Country, Garrett Fagan
24. Urban Infrastructure and Euergetism outside the City of Rome, Marietta Horster
25. Spectacle in Rome, Italy, and the Provinces, Michael Carter & Jonathan Edmondson
26. Roman Family History, Jonathan Edmondson
27. Women in the Roman World, Maria Letizia Caldelli
28. Slaves and Freed Slaves, Christer Bruun
29. Death and Burial, Laura Chioffi
30. Communications and Mobility in the Roman Empire, Anne Kolb
31. Economic Life in the Roman Empire, Jonathan Edmondson
Inscriptions and Roman Cultural Life
32. Local Languages in Italy and the West, James Clackson
33. Linguistic Variation, Language Change, and Latin Inscriptions, Peter Kruschwitz
34. Inscriptions and Literacy, John Bodel
35. Carmina Latina Epigraphica, Manfred Schmidt

APPENDICES
I Standard Epigraphic Conventions (Leiden Conventions)
II Common Epigraphic Abbreviations
III Roman Onomastics
IV Roman Kinship Terms
V Roman Voting Tribes
VI Numbers
VII Digital Resources for Roman Epigraphy
ART CREDITS
INDICES
Index of sources
General Index

Editorial Reviews

"This volume is not just an essential, but also an entertaining tool that will satisfy the interest of a broad audience composed by both militant and amateur epigraphers, curious readers or students." — Emilia Mataix Ferrándiz, Classical Journal Online

"Authors, editors, and press have taken great pains to produce a remarkably clean text. Such rigor is essential for reliability and assures that this ambitious volume will be a fundamental reference work for those teaching epigraphy or using epigraphic materials in their work for many years to come." — Plekos

"Who should read this book? The short answer is anyone interested in Roman epigraphy and the ancient world. That doesn't just mean professional classicists and archaeologists. It also includes those visitors to Roman sites, who are fascinated by the carvings and inscriptions which they see. Readers with a serious interest in the Roman world will find much to enjoy in this handbook." — Rupert Jackson, Classics for All

"The quality of the chapters overall is very high and with remarkable consistency. Each operates essentially as a brief survey of its topic supported by excellent line drawings, photos, maps, and tables and concluded with consistently superb and up to date chapter bibliographies. In fact, I would recommend any scholar of the Roman world writing on one of the covered topics begin with reading the chapter in the Handbook and thoroughly perusing the bibliography...All provide thoughtful, informed analysis of their topics and go beyond just case studies, but model the sort of questions that can be asked and answered with epigraphic evidence...This handbook is more of an exploration of the extent to which epigraphy works in the service of many of the branches of the Classics. Students and scholars of the Roman world who study it should find it enormously helpful." —Steven L. Tuck, CJ-Online

"The Handbook, looking at the whole Roman world (although weighted towards Latin) has thirty-five thematic chapters, all by different authors, presenting a series of engaging, clear and not overlong discussions of the contribution of epigraphy to aspects of Roman culture." — The Times Literary Supplement

"For anyone who wants a thorough understanding of the Roman world and Roman culture, this work is the best of recent offerings." —Religious Studies Review

From the Publisher