Dynamic Epigraphy: New Approaches to Inscriptions

This volume explores innovative approaches to epigraphic material, emphasizing the embodied experience, linguistic capabilities, visuality, and interrelationships with literary texts. It employs interdisciplinary methodologies to expand the boundaries of epigraphy as a discipline and demonstrate the analytical value of interdisciplinary studies of inscribed material.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2022
Publisher: Oxbow Books

This volume, with origins in a panel at the 2018 Celtic Conference in Classics, presents creative new approaches to epigraphic material, in an attempt to shake up how we deal with inscriptions. Broad themes include the embodied experience of epigraphy, the unique capacities of epigraphic language as a genre, the visuality of inscriptions, and the interplay of inscriptions with literary texts. Although each chapter focuses on specific objects and epigraphic landscapes, ranging from Republican Rome to early modern Scotland, the emphasis here is on using these case studies not as an end in themselves, but as a means of exploring broader methodological and theoretical issues to do with how we use inscriptions as evidence, both for the Greco-Roman world and for other time periods. Drawing on conversations from fields such as archaeology and anthropology, philology, art history, linguistics, and history, contributors also seek to push the boundaries of epigraphy as a discipline and to demonstrate the analytical fruits of interdisciplinary approaches to inscribed material. Methodologies such as phenomenology, translingualism, intertextuality, and critical fabulation are deployed to offer new perspectives on the social functions of inscriptions as texts and objects and to open up new horizons for the use of inscriptions as evidence for past societies.

Introduction:
This volume, with origins in a panel at the 2018 Celtic Conference in Classics, presents creative new approaches to epigraphic material, in an attempt to shake up how we deal with inscriptions. Broad themes include the embodied experience of epigraphy, the unique capacities of epigraphic language as a genre, the visuality of inscriptions, and the interplay of inscriptions with literary texts. Although each chapter focuses on specific objects and epigraphic landscapes, ranging from Republican Rome to early modern Scotland, the emphasis here is on using these case studies not as an end in themselves, but as a means of exploring broader methodological and theoretical issues to do with how we use inscriptions as evidence, both for the Greco-Roman world and for other time periods. Drawing on conversations from fields such as archaeology and anthropology, philology, art history, linguistics, and history, contributors also seek to push the boundaries of epigraphy as a discipline and to demonstrate the analytical fruits of interdisciplinary approaches to inscribed material. Methodologies such as phenomenology, translingualism, intertextuality, and critical fabulation are deployed to offer new perspectives on the social functions of inscriptions as texts and objects and to open up new horizons for the use of inscriptions as evidence for past societies.

Embodied Experience of Epigraphy:
One of the key themes in this volume is the embodied experience of epigraphy. Contributors explore how inscriptions are not just static texts, but dynamic objects that can be experienced and interpreted in a variety of ways. They consider how inscriptions are physically inscribed on materials such as stone, metal, and parchment, and how these materials can affect the way that inscriptions are read and interpreted. For example, some contributors argue that inscriptions are not just visual objects, but also tactile and auditory objects that can be experienced through touch and hearing. They explore how inscriptions can be used to create immersive experiences that engage the senses and evoke emotions in the viewer or reader.

Unique Capacities of Epigraphic Language:
Another key theme in this volume is the unique capacities of epigraphic language as a genre. Contributors argue that epigraphic language is distinct from other forms of language in a number of ways. For example, epigraphic language is often used to convey complex ideas and concepts in a concise and efficient manner. It is often used to record historical events and to preserve cultural heritage. Epigraphic language is also often used to create literary texts that are both informative and entertaining.

Visuality of Inscriptions:
A third key theme in this volume is the visuality of inscriptions. Contributors explore how inscriptions are not just visual objects, but also spatial objects that can be experienced and interpreted in a variety of ways. They consider how inscriptions are often placed in specific locations and how these locations can affect the way that inscriptions are read and interpreted. For example, some contributors argue that inscriptions are not just visual objects, but also spatial objects that can be experienced through movement and orientation. They explore how inscriptions can be used to create spatial narratives that convey information about the physical and social landscape of the past.

Interplay of Inscriptions with Literary Texts:
A fourth key theme in this volume is the interplay of inscriptions with literary texts. Contributors explore how inscriptions can be used to complement and expand upon literary texts. They consider how inscriptions can provide additional information about historical events, cultural practices, and social structures. They also consider how inscriptions can be used to challenge and complicate literary interpretations of the past.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, this volume offers a rich and diverse range of perspectives on epigraphic material. It provides a valuable contribution to the field of epigraphy and to the broader field of ancient studies. By exploring new approaches to epigraphic material, this volume seeks to shake up how we deal with inscriptions and to demonstrate the analytical fruits of interdisciplinary approaches to inscribed material. We hope that this volume will inspire further research and discussion in the field of epigraphy and that it will be of use to scholars and students alike.

Dimension: 240 x 170 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789257892