Archaeological contexts of inscriptions in the private sphere

The project addresses archaeological contexts of all kinds of inscriptions and their bearers used in private dwellings. The houses which will be investigated are mainly located in mainland Greece and the Greek islands (modern day Greece) as well as in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey), with a timeframe form the Hellenistic Period until Late Antiquity. The aim is to examine where, when, how and why inscriptions were used in the everyday life of ancient houses. Among various aspects we will study the spatial distribution, the exact placements, the meaning of inscriptions on moveable objects, the connection between inscriptions and the objects they were related to, the role of inscriptions within household religion, and the targeted audience. As to put the results in sharper relief, the results of the investigated house contexts will be matched with predecessors and inscriptions of the public realm and rulers residences of the Greek East as well as with contemporary contexts of dwellings in the Roman West. The study will be based on the examination of inscriptions in their spatial and temporal archaeological contexts. Therefore it offers the possibility to achieve new results concerning the history of living. These will contribute to a differentiation of functions and uses of rooms, and of particular areas, and they also will shed a light on the role of all the people who frequented the houses. The results of the project shall be published in a monograph comprising a catalogue, a comprehensive analysis and plates. In addition to figures of inscriptions and their bearers, the latter will include plans on which the finding spots of the inscriptions and their bearers shall be marked as well as 3D-models of selected contexts for a better visualization.

Summary of the FWF project P29261 "Archaeological contexts of inscriptions in the private sphere" The project which was carried out by Elisabeth Rathmayr and Veronika Scheibelreiter-Gail dealt with all types of inscriptions which occur in residential buildings from the Hellenistic period to Late Antiquity in the Greek East. Examined were their spatial distribution, placement on architectural elements, sculptures, wall paintings, mosaics and small finds as well as their visibility and legibility. In addition, the authorship of inscriptions and their function, such as inscriptions referring to ritual activities taking place in houses, were investigated. Graffiti, which were mainly carved on wall paintings inside of houses and on house façades, were also the focus of interest, as they provide direct insights into the everyday and social life of the residents and all those who visited the buildings. The inscriptions of the investigated residential buildings are testimonies of all persons who lived together in these buildings (homeowner, his wife and children, freedmen and slaves) or frequented these houses for various reasons resp. (as visitors, guests, clients etc.).