teaching with latin inscriptions · the ashmolean latin inscriptions project...

9
The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptions.ashmus.ox.ac.uk Teaching Latin Inscriptions with Confidence Latin inscriptions can be a great way teach about Roman life and to try out Latin skills using real Roman writing. This guide for teachers introduces the basics of the study of Latin inscriptions (known as Latin Epigraphy). It starts with an introduction to some of the different reasons that Romans made inscriptions. Then it gives a quick guide to reading inscriptions, including: A guide to the notation used in epigraphic publications A guide to the abbreviations that Romans used in their inscriptions A list of places to find more information about inscriptions The guide also includes a series of practice exercises to try out the skills involved as well as activities that you can use to introduce these concepts to your students. Types of inscription Image Type Examples Labelling Makers’ marks Honorific Thanks Congratulations Commemoration Self-promotion

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Page 1: Teaching with Latin Inscriptions · The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptions.ashmus.ox.ac.uk Teaching Latin Inscriptions with Confidence Latin inscriptions can be

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Teaching Latin Inscriptions with Confidence

LatininscriptionscanbeagreatwayteachaboutRomanlifeandtotryoutLatinskillsusingrealRomanwritingThisguideforteachersintroducesthebasicsofthestudyofLatininscriptions(knownasLatinEpigraphy)ItstartswithanintroductiontosomeofthedifferentreasonsthatRomansmadeinscriptionsThenitgivesaquickguidetoreadinginscriptionsincluding

bull Aguidetothenotationusedinepigraphicpublicationsbull AguidetotheabbreviationsthatRomansusedintheirinscriptionsbull Alistofplacestofindmoreinformationaboutinscriptions

Theguidealsoincludesaseriesofpracticeexercisestotryouttheskillsinvolvedaswellasactivitiesthatyoucanusetointroducetheseconceptstoyourstudents

Typesofinscription

Image Type Examples

Labelling

bull Makersrsquomarks

Honorific

bull Thanksbull Congratulationsbull Commemorationbull Self-promotion

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Votive

bull Thankstodeitybull Promisetodeitybull Requesttodeity

Legal

bull WeightsandMeasuresbull Citizenshipdecreesbull Lawsbull Decrees

Funerary

bull Epitaphsbull Columbariumplaquesbull Propertymarkersbull Ashurns

Graffiti

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

YoucanfindoutmoreaboutsomeofthedifferenttypesofinscriptionsincludingrarerkindslikegoldglassandslingbulletsintheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionsProjectrsquosFeaturedObjectssectionhttplatininscriptionsashmusoxacukfeatured

TointroducestudentstotherangeofdifferentkindsofLatininscriptionsyoucanusetheRomanWritingMatchingActivitycards

EasyEpigraphydecodingbracketsandsymbols

EpigraphicpublicationsuseshorthandtorecordwhatinscriptionssayBecausesmallchangesinthetextofLatincanmakeabigdifferencetowhatitmeansitisimportantforeditorstoshowwhichlettersareclearontheinscriptionandwhichhavebeensuppliedbytheirowninterpretation

BracketsareusedtomarkoffsectionsoftextthathavebeensubjecttoeditorialinterventionThetypeofbracketsshowswhatchangeshavebeenmade

Symbol Usedfor Inscriptionsays Theepigrapherwrites() Anabbreviatedword

whichtheeditorhaswrittenoutinfull

AVG Aug(ustus)

[] Letterslostthroughdamagebutsuppliedbyeditor

VRNIA [Calp]urnia

[[]] Letterserasedinantiquitybutcanstillbereadclearly

GETA [[Geta]]

(VAC) Markingadeliberatelyblankspace

DM

D(vac)M

Correctingamistakemadebytheoriginalinscriber

INSIRVXIT

instruxit

Letterscarvedinerrorwhichtheeditorhasremoved

ltgt

Lettersomittedinerrorwhichtheeditorhasadded

+++

Damagedtracesofletterswhichcannotberecognisedeachcrossrepresentsoneletter

ABC Lettersreadbyapreviouseditorcurrentlyinvisible

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Decipheringaninscription

Thisexampleshowsepigraphicnotationinaction

Text Edition

Translation

TICLAVDIODRVS

CAESARIAVGGERM

PONTMAXTRIBPOT

VIIIIIMPXVICOSIIII

PPCENSORI

VIC

Ti(berio)degClaudiodegDrus[if(ilio)]CaesaridegAug(usto)degGerm(anico)pont(ifici)degmax(imo)degtrib(unicia)degpot(estate)degVIIIIdegimp(eratori)degXVIdegco(n)s(uli)degIIIIdeg5p(atri)degp(atriae)deg(vac)censoridegvic(us)[-]

lsquoToTiberiusClaudiusCaesarAugustusGermanicussonofDrusussupremepontiffholderoftribunicianpowerforthe9thtimehailedvictoriousgeneralforthe16thtimeconsulforthe4thtimefatherofhiscountycensorThe[-]district(setthisup)rsquo

TopracticetheseskillstrytheDIYEdityourownInscriptionactivityinthispack

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Readinginscriptions

SpacewasoftenatapremiumoninscriptionssoRomanshadtheirownshorthandforwritingthemSometimeswordsrunintoeachotherwithoutspacessothefirsttaskistoidentifytheindividualwordsSmalldots(calledinterpuncts)oftenappearbetweenwordsNotallinscriptionshavetheseandsometimestheyareusedinconsistentlybuttheycanbehelpfulinpickingoutindividualwords

CommonlyusednameswordsandphraseswereoftenabbreviatedEpigraphicpublications(liketheexampleabove)willoftenexpandabbreviationsforyouHoweveritishelpfultoknowthemostcommonabbreviations

Firstnames(Praenomina)

Abbreviation NameL LuciusP PubliusC GaiusM MarcusTi TiberiusA AulusMrsquo ManiusCN GnaeusD DecimusQ Quintus

Commontitles

Abbreviation TitlePONTMAX PontifexMaximusChiefpontiff

TRIBPOT tribuniciapotestaswithtribunicianpower

IMP

Imperator

COS

consulthehighestpoliticaloffice

PP paterpatriaelsquoFatherofthecountryrsquo

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Funeraryformulae

Abbreviation Fullphrase TranslationDM DisManibus Tothegodsbelow

F FiliusFilia Sondaughter

VixAnnMD

VixitAnnosMensesDies

livedforhellipyearshellipmonthshellipdays

STTL SitTibiTerraLevis Maytheearthlielightlyonyou

BM

BeneMerenti Welldeserving

F

Fecit Madethis

HSE

HicSitusSitaEst isburiedhere

VAPM

vixitannosplusminus Livedmoreorlesshellipyears

TheldquoCrackingCodesrdquoPowerPointandworksheetaredesignedtointroducetheseabbreviationsandpracticereadingrealfuneraryinscriptionswithLatinlearnersThepresentationnotesincludefulltranslationsandpointoutinterestingfactsabouttheseobjects

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Readingatombstone

Romantombstonesareoftenhighlyformulaicand(withabitofpractice)easytoread

Toreadatypicaltombstone

1 Lookforname(s)inthedativecaseThisisusuallytheperson(orpeople)forwhomthegravestonewaserectedIntheexampleabovethenameisDecimusAemiliusVitalis

2 Lookforname(s)inthenominativecaseThisisusuallytheperson(orpeople)whosetupthegravestoneSometimestheverbFecitFeceruntisincludedtomakethisclearIntheexampleabovethisphraseisClodiaHeliceMaterFecit

3 LookforanyfamiliarformulaeandabbreviationsInthiscase

=Vixitannos

=dies(youcantellthedifferencebetweenthisandtheDthatstandsforDecimusinthefirstlinebycontext)

4 Translateanyphrasesthatremainandputitalltogether

ThefulltranslationfortheexampleaboveisldquoForDecimusAemiliusVitalisHelivedfor25years48daysClodiaHelicehismothersetthisuprdquo

TheTombstonesandtheDativeCaseworksheetandCrackingCodespresentationcanbeusedtointroduceyourstudentstoreadingfuneraryinscriptions

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Teachingwithobjects

LatininscriptionsareasimportantforwhattheytellusasobjectsasforthewritingonthemTeachingwithobjectsismosteffectivewhenitencourageslearnerstolookcloselyattheobjectsandthinkthroughwhattheycantellus

DrawingactivitiescanbegreatforgettingstudentstolookcloselyatobjectsandaskmoredetailedquestionsTry

bull SketchingtheobjectandannotatingthesketchwiththingslikesizecolourandpersonalimpressionsDescribewhatisbeingdepictedinanyimagesandmakeacleartranscriptionofthewords

bull ObservationaldrawingndashlookingcloselyandtryingtorepresenttheinscriptionasaccuratelyaspossibleToreallyfocusontheobjectyoucantrydrawingwithoutlookingatthepaper

bull Drawingandfillinginmissingorbrokenparts(thiscanincludeimaginingcolourssincemanyancientstonesculpturesandinscriptionswerebrightlypainted)

DrawingisoftenbestdonewhilelookingattheobjectsthemselvesinthemuseumHoweveryoucanexperimentwithworkingfromimagesontheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionscatalogue

SomeobjectsintheAshLIcataloguehavebeenphotographedusingaprocesscalledRTI(youcanfindthemathttplatininscriptionsashmusoxacukcollectionsrti)ThisallowsyoutodragthelightsourcearoundandviewthetextureoftheinscriptionToviewanRTIimageclickontheldquoRTI

imagerdquolinkfortheobjectThenclickthe icontoviewfullscreenandthe icontomovethelightsourcebyclickingontheimageanddraggingthemouseThisshouldgiveaclearsenseofthetextureoftheobjectrsquossurface

ResearchactivitiesareanothergoodwaytoencouragedetailedthinkingaboutobjectsTry

bull AskingstudentstodoresearchfromaninformationsourcewithastricttimelimitWhatweretheyabletolearninthetimeandwhatquestionsdotheystillhaveabouttheobject

bull DebatingtheobjectsimagineyouareamuseumcuratorandyoucanaddoneoftheseobjectstoyourcollectionWhichoneshoulditbeandwhyThinkaboutwhatismoreimportantinamuseumobjectbeautyconnectionstofamouspeopleshowingthelivesofordinarypeoplehowmuchmoneyitisworthorsomethingelseentirelyHaveaclassdebatetodecidebetweenthemostpopularobjects

bull LookatthepeoplebehindtheobjectsandwriteastoryfromtheirperspectiveWhatdidtheobjectmeantothemWorkinsomefactsfromyourresearchandfeelfreetoinventdetails

bull OrimaginethelifeoftheobjectitselfWhatwoulditsayifitcouldtalkWhatkindsofthingshasitexperienced

bull TwotruthsandaliendashGoroundtheclassaskingstudentstopickoutsomefactsabouttheobjectandtrytofooleveryoneelsebyslippinginoneplausiblelieGettheclasstovoteonwhichisthefib

bull Writetheirownmuseumlabelfortheobjectndashdecidewhatfactsaremostimportantabouttheobjectandhowtocapturepeoplersquosimaginationinasmallspace

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

bull Makeaposteraboutyourfavouriteobjectusingeye-catchingimagesandclearexplanatorytexttohelppeopleunderstandit

bull MakeconnectionsbetweenobjectsTakeagroupofobjectsandsortthembythethingstheyhaveincommon

bull ArrangetheobjectsonatimelineoronamapThinkabouthowlargetheRomanempirewasandhowlongitlasted

TheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionscataloguepagesofferdetailedinformationabouttheobjectsCataloguepagesaredesignedtobedetailedenoughforexpertsandprofessionalstouseintheirresearchbutmightbeusefulforpractisingtheskillsofskimreadingandpickingoutthemostrelevantinformation

ForslightlyeasierresearchmaterialthereisasetoffactsheetsaboutselectedAshmoleanLatininscriptionsincludedaspartofthispack

Findingoutmore

TheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionsProject(AshLI)

bull Webcatalogueandteacherresourceshttplatininscriptionsashmusoxacukbull BloghttpwwwashmoleanorgashwpresslatininscriptionsorsearchlsquoReadingWriting

Romansrsquobull TwitterAshmoleanLatin

WarwickEpigraphy

bull LinkstoInscriptionCollectionsandResourceshttpwww2warwickacukfacartsclassicspostgradsmodulesepigraphybibliogonline

bull TwitterW_Epigraphy

RomanInscriptionsofBritain(RIB)

bull httpromaninscriptionsofbritainorg

CurseTabletsofRomanBritain

bull httpcursescsadoxacuk

LettersfromHadrianrsquosWall(Vindolanda)

bull httpvindolandacsadoxacuk

AlisonCooleyTheCambridgeManualofLatinEpigraphy(CUP2012)

Page 2: Teaching with Latin Inscriptions · The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptions.ashmus.ox.ac.uk Teaching Latin Inscriptions with Confidence Latin inscriptions can be

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Votive

bull Thankstodeitybull Promisetodeitybull Requesttodeity

Legal

bull WeightsandMeasuresbull Citizenshipdecreesbull Lawsbull Decrees

Funerary

bull Epitaphsbull Columbariumplaquesbull Propertymarkersbull Ashurns

Graffiti

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

YoucanfindoutmoreaboutsomeofthedifferenttypesofinscriptionsincludingrarerkindslikegoldglassandslingbulletsintheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionsProjectrsquosFeaturedObjectssectionhttplatininscriptionsashmusoxacukfeatured

TointroducestudentstotherangeofdifferentkindsofLatininscriptionsyoucanusetheRomanWritingMatchingActivitycards

EasyEpigraphydecodingbracketsandsymbols

EpigraphicpublicationsuseshorthandtorecordwhatinscriptionssayBecausesmallchangesinthetextofLatincanmakeabigdifferencetowhatitmeansitisimportantforeditorstoshowwhichlettersareclearontheinscriptionandwhichhavebeensuppliedbytheirowninterpretation

BracketsareusedtomarkoffsectionsoftextthathavebeensubjecttoeditorialinterventionThetypeofbracketsshowswhatchangeshavebeenmade

Symbol Usedfor Inscriptionsays Theepigrapherwrites() Anabbreviatedword

whichtheeditorhaswrittenoutinfull

AVG Aug(ustus)

[] Letterslostthroughdamagebutsuppliedbyeditor

VRNIA [Calp]urnia

[[]] Letterserasedinantiquitybutcanstillbereadclearly

GETA [[Geta]]

(VAC) Markingadeliberatelyblankspace

DM

D(vac)M

Correctingamistakemadebytheoriginalinscriber

INSIRVXIT

instruxit

Letterscarvedinerrorwhichtheeditorhasremoved

ltgt

Lettersomittedinerrorwhichtheeditorhasadded

+++

Damagedtracesofletterswhichcannotberecognisedeachcrossrepresentsoneletter

ABC Lettersreadbyapreviouseditorcurrentlyinvisible

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Decipheringaninscription

Thisexampleshowsepigraphicnotationinaction

Text Edition

Translation

TICLAVDIODRVS

CAESARIAVGGERM

PONTMAXTRIBPOT

VIIIIIMPXVICOSIIII

PPCENSORI

VIC

Ti(berio)degClaudiodegDrus[if(ilio)]CaesaridegAug(usto)degGerm(anico)pont(ifici)degmax(imo)degtrib(unicia)degpot(estate)degVIIIIdegimp(eratori)degXVIdegco(n)s(uli)degIIIIdeg5p(atri)degp(atriae)deg(vac)censoridegvic(us)[-]

lsquoToTiberiusClaudiusCaesarAugustusGermanicussonofDrusussupremepontiffholderoftribunicianpowerforthe9thtimehailedvictoriousgeneralforthe16thtimeconsulforthe4thtimefatherofhiscountycensorThe[-]district(setthisup)rsquo

TopracticetheseskillstrytheDIYEdityourownInscriptionactivityinthispack

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Readinginscriptions

SpacewasoftenatapremiumoninscriptionssoRomanshadtheirownshorthandforwritingthemSometimeswordsrunintoeachotherwithoutspacessothefirsttaskistoidentifytheindividualwordsSmalldots(calledinterpuncts)oftenappearbetweenwordsNotallinscriptionshavetheseandsometimestheyareusedinconsistentlybuttheycanbehelpfulinpickingoutindividualwords

CommonlyusednameswordsandphraseswereoftenabbreviatedEpigraphicpublications(liketheexampleabove)willoftenexpandabbreviationsforyouHoweveritishelpfultoknowthemostcommonabbreviations

Firstnames(Praenomina)

Abbreviation NameL LuciusP PubliusC GaiusM MarcusTi TiberiusA AulusMrsquo ManiusCN GnaeusD DecimusQ Quintus

Commontitles

Abbreviation TitlePONTMAX PontifexMaximusChiefpontiff

TRIBPOT tribuniciapotestaswithtribunicianpower

IMP

Imperator

COS

consulthehighestpoliticaloffice

PP paterpatriaelsquoFatherofthecountryrsquo

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Funeraryformulae

Abbreviation Fullphrase TranslationDM DisManibus Tothegodsbelow

F FiliusFilia Sondaughter

VixAnnMD

VixitAnnosMensesDies

livedforhellipyearshellipmonthshellipdays

STTL SitTibiTerraLevis Maytheearthlielightlyonyou

BM

BeneMerenti Welldeserving

F

Fecit Madethis

HSE

HicSitusSitaEst isburiedhere

VAPM

vixitannosplusminus Livedmoreorlesshellipyears

TheldquoCrackingCodesrdquoPowerPointandworksheetaredesignedtointroducetheseabbreviationsandpracticereadingrealfuneraryinscriptionswithLatinlearnersThepresentationnotesincludefulltranslationsandpointoutinterestingfactsabouttheseobjects

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Readingatombstone

Romantombstonesareoftenhighlyformulaicand(withabitofpractice)easytoread

Toreadatypicaltombstone

1 Lookforname(s)inthedativecaseThisisusuallytheperson(orpeople)forwhomthegravestonewaserectedIntheexampleabovethenameisDecimusAemiliusVitalis

2 Lookforname(s)inthenominativecaseThisisusuallytheperson(orpeople)whosetupthegravestoneSometimestheverbFecitFeceruntisincludedtomakethisclearIntheexampleabovethisphraseisClodiaHeliceMaterFecit

3 LookforanyfamiliarformulaeandabbreviationsInthiscase

=Vixitannos

=dies(youcantellthedifferencebetweenthisandtheDthatstandsforDecimusinthefirstlinebycontext)

4 Translateanyphrasesthatremainandputitalltogether

ThefulltranslationfortheexampleaboveisldquoForDecimusAemiliusVitalisHelivedfor25years48daysClodiaHelicehismothersetthisuprdquo

TheTombstonesandtheDativeCaseworksheetandCrackingCodespresentationcanbeusedtointroduceyourstudentstoreadingfuneraryinscriptions

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Teachingwithobjects

LatininscriptionsareasimportantforwhattheytellusasobjectsasforthewritingonthemTeachingwithobjectsismosteffectivewhenitencourageslearnerstolookcloselyattheobjectsandthinkthroughwhattheycantellus

DrawingactivitiescanbegreatforgettingstudentstolookcloselyatobjectsandaskmoredetailedquestionsTry

bull SketchingtheobjectandannotatingthesketchwiththingslikesizecolourandpersonalimpressionsDescribewhatisbeingdepictedinanyimagesandmakeacleartranscriptionofthewords

bull ObservationaldrawingndashlookingcloselyandtryingtorepresenttheinscriptionasaccuratelyaspossibleToreallyfocusontheobjectyoucantrydrawingwithoutlookingatthepaper

bull Drawingandfillinginmissingorbrokenparts(thiscanincludeimaginingcolourssincemanyancientstonesculpturesandinscriptionswerebrightlypainted)

DrawingisoftenbestdonewhilelookingattheobjectsthemselvesinthemuseumHoweveryoucanexperimentwithworkingfromimagesontheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionscatalogue

SomeobjectsintheAshLIcataloguehavebeenphotographedusingaprocesscalledRTI(youcanfindthemathttplatininscriptionsashmusoxacukcollectionsrti)ThisallowsyoutodragthelightsourcearoundandviewthetextureoftheinscriptionToviewanRTIimageclickontheldquoRTI

imagerdquolinkfortheobjectThenclickthe icontoviewfullscreenandthe icontomovethelightsourcebyclickingontheimageanddraggingthemouseThisshouldgiveaclearsenseofthetextureoftheobjectrsquossurface

ResearchactivitiesareanothergoodwaytoencouragedetailedthinkingaboutobjectsTry

bull AskingstudentstodoresearchfromaninformationsourcewithastricttimelimitWhatweretheyabletolearninthetimeandwhatquestionsdotheystillhaveabouttheobject

bull DebatingtheobjectsimagineyouareamuseumcuratorandyoucanaddoneoftheseobjectstoyourcollectionWhichoneshoulditbeandwhyThinkaboutwhatismoreimportantinamuseumobjectbeautyconnectionstofamouspeopleshowingthelivesofordinarypeoplehowmuchmoneyitisworthorsomethingelseentirelyHaveaclassdebatetodecidebetweenthemostpopularobjects

bull LookatthepeoplebehindtheobjectsandwriteastoryfromtheirperspectiveWhatdidtheobjectmeantothemWorkinsomefactsfromyourresearchandfeelfreetoinventdetails

bull OrimaginethelifeoftheobjectitselfWhatwoulditsayifitcouldtalkWhatkindsofthingshasitexperienced

bull TwotruthsandaliendashGoroundtheclassaskingstudentstopickoutsomefactsabouttheobjectandtrytofooleveryoneelsebyslippinginoneplausiblelieGettheclasstovoteonwhichisthefib

bull Writetheirownmuseumlabelfortheobjectndashdecidewhatfactsaremostimportantabouttheobjectandhowtocapturepeoplersquosimaginationinasmallspace

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

bull Makeaposteraboutyourfavouriteobjectusingeye-catchingimagesandclearexplanatorytexttohelppeopleunderstandit

bull MakeconnectionsbetweenobjectsTakeagroupofobjectsandsortthembythethingstheyhaveincommon

bull ArrangetheobjectsonatimelineoronamapThinkabouthowlargetheRomanempirewasandhowlongitlasted

TheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionscataloguepagesofferdetailedinformationabouttheobjectsCataloguepagesaredesignedtobedetailedenoughforexpertsandprofessionalstouseintheirresearchbutmightbeusefulforpractisingtheskillsofskimreadingandpickingoutthemostrelevantinformation

ForslightlyeasierresearchmaterialthereisasetoffactsheetsaboutselectedAshmoleanLatininscriptionsincludedaspartofthispack

Findingoutmore

TheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionsProject(AshLI)

bull Webcatalogueandteacherresourceshttplatininscriptionsashmusoxacukbull BloghttpwwwashmoleanorgashwpresslatininscriptionsorsearchlsquoReadingWriting

Romansrsquobull TwitterAshmoleanLatin

WarwickEpigraphy

bull LinkstoInscriptionCollectionsandResourceshttpwww2warwickacukfacartsclassicspostgradsmodulesepigraphybibliogonline

bull TwitterW_Epigraphy

RomanInscriptionsofBritain(RIB)

bull httpromaninscriptionsofbritainorg

CurseTabletsofRomanBritain

bull httpcursescsadoxacuk

LettersfromHadrianrsquosWall(Vindolanda)

bull httpvindolandacsadoxacuk

AlisonCooleyTheCambridgeManualofLatinEpigraphy(CUP2012)

Page 3: Teaching with Latin Inscriptions · The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptions.ashmus.ox.ac.uk Teaching Latin Inscriptions with Confidence Latin inscriptions can be

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

YoucanfindoutmoreaboutsomeofthedifferenttypesofinscriptionsincludingrarerkindslikegoldglassandslingbulletsintheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionsProjectrsquosFeaturedObjectssectionhttplatininscriptionsashmusoxacukfeatured

TointroducestudentstotherangeofdifferentkindsofLatininscriptionsyoucanusetheRomanWritingMatchingActivitycards

EasyEpigraphydecodingbracketsandsymbols

EpigraphicpublicationsuseshorthandtorecordwhatinscriptionssayBecausesmallchangesinthetextofLatincanmakeabigdifferencetowhatitmeansitisimportantforeditorstoshowwhichlettersareclearontheinscriptionandwhichhavebeensuppliedbytheirowninterpretation

BracketsareusedtomarkoffsectionsoftextthathavebeensubjecttoeditorialinterventionThetypeofbracketsshowswhatchangeshavebeenmade

Symbol Usedfor Inscriptionsays Theepigrapherwrites() Anabbreviatedword

whichtheeditorhaswrittenoutinfull

AVG Aug(ustus)

[] Letterslostthroughdamagebutsuppliedbyeditor

VRNIA [Calp]urnia

[[]] Letterserasedinantiquitybutcanstillbereadclearly

GETA [[Geta]]

(VAC) Markingadeliberatelyblankspace

DM

D(vac)M

Correctingamistakemadebytheoriginalinscriber

INSIRVXIT

instruxit

Letterscarvedinerrorwhichtheeditorhasremoved

ltgt

Lettersomittedinerrorwhichtheeditorhasadded

+++

Damagedtracesofletterswhichcannotberecognisedeachcrossrepresentsoneletter

ABC Lettersreadbyapreviouseditorcurrentlyinvisible

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Decipheringaninscription

Thisexampleshowsepigraphicnotationinaction

Text Edition

Translation

TICLAVDIODRVS

CAESARIAVGGERM

PONTMAXTRIBPOT

VIIIIIMPXVICOSIIII

PPCENSORI

VIC

Ti(berio)degClaudiodegDrus[if(ilio)]CaesaridegAug(usto)degGerm(anico)pont(ifici)degmax(imo)degtrib(unicia)degpot(estate)degVIIIIdegimp(eratori)degXVIdegco(n)s(uli)degIIIIdeg5p(atri)degp(atriae)deg(vac)censoridegvic(us)[-]

lsquoToTiberiusClaudiusCaesarAugustusGermanicussonofDrusussupremepontiffholderoftribunicianpowerforthe9thtimehailedvictoriousgeneralforthe16thtimeconsulforthe4thtimefatherofhiscountycensorThe[-]district(setthisup)rsquo

TopracticetheseskillstrytheDIYEdityourownInscriptionactivityinthispack

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Readinginscriptions

SpacewasoftenatapremiumoninscriptionssoRomanshadtheirownshorthandforwritingthemSometimeswordsrunintoeachotherwithoutspacessothefirsttaskistoidentifytheindividualwordsSmalldots(calledinterpuncts)oftenappearbetweenwordsNotallinscriptionshavetheseandsometimestheyareusedinconsistentlybuttheycanbehelpfulinpickingoutindividualwords

CommonlyusednameswordsandphraseswereoftenabbreviatedEpigraphicpublications(liketheexampleabove)willoftenexpandabbreviationsforyouHoweveritishelpfultoknowthemostcommonabbreviations

Firstnames(Praenomina)

Abbreviation NameL LuciusP PubliusC GaiusM MarcusTi TiberiusA AulusMrsquo ManiusCN GnaeusD DecimusQ Quintus

Commontitles

Abbreviation TitlePONTMAX PontifexMaximusChiefpontiff

TRIBPOT tribuniciapotestaswithtribunicianpower

IMP

Imperator

COS

consulthehighestpoliticaloffice

PP paterpatriaelsquoFatherofthecountryrsquo

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Funeraryformulae

Abbreviation Fullphrase TranslationDM DisManibus Tothegodsbelow

F FiliusFilia Sondaughter

VixAnnMD

VixitAnnosMensesDies

livedforhellipyearshellipmonthshellipdays

STTL SitTibiTerraLevis Maytheearthlielightlyonyou

BM

BeneMerenti Welldeserving

F

Fecit Madethis

HSE

HicSitusSitaEst isburiedhere

VAPM

vixitannosplusminus Livedmoreorlesshellipyears

TheldquoCrackingCodesrdquoPowerPointandworksheetaredesignedtointroducetheseabbreviationsandpracticereadingrealfuneraryinscriptionswithLatinlearnersThepresentationnotesincludefulltranslationsandpointoutinterestingfactsabouttheseobjects

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Readingatombstone

Romantombstonesareoftenhighlyformulaicand(withabitofpractice)easytoread

Toreadatypicaltombstone

1 Lookforname(s)inthedativecaseThisisusuallytheperson(orpeople)forwhomthegravestonewaserectedIntheexampleabovethenameisDecimusAemiliusVitalis

2 Lookforname(s)inthenominativecaseThisisusuallytheperson(orpeople)whosetupthegravestoneSometimestheverbFecitFeceruntisincludedtomakethisclearIntheexampleabovethisphraseisClodiaHeliceMaterFecit

3 LookforanyfamiliarformulaeandabbreviationsInthiscase

=Vixitannos

=dies(youcantellthedifferencebetweenthisandtheDthatstandsforDecimusinthefirstlinebycontext)

4 Translateanyphrasesthatremainandputitalltogether

ThefulltranslationfortheexampleaboveisldquoForDecimusAemiliusVitalisHelivedfor25years48daysClodiaHelicehismothersetthisuprdquo

TheTombstonesandtheDativeCaseworksheetandCrackingCodespresentationcanbeusedtointroduceyourstudentstoreadingfuneraryinscriptions

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Teachingwithobjects

LatininscriptionsareasimportantforwhattheytellusasobjectsasforthewritingonthemTeachingwithobjectsismosteffectivewhenitencourageslearnerstolookcloselyattheobjectsandthinkthroughwhattheycantellus

DrawingactivitiescanbegreatforgettingstudentstolookcloselyatobjectsandaskmoredetailedquestionsTry

bull SketchingtheobjectandannotatingthesketchwiththingslikesizecolourandpersonalimpressionsDescribewhatisbeingdepictedinanyimagesandmakeacleartranscriptionofthewords

bull ObservationaldrawingndashlookingcloselyandtryingtorepresenttheinscriptionasaccuratelyaspossibleToreallyfocusontheobjectyoucantrydrawingwithoutlookingatthepaper

bull Drawingandfillinginmissingorbrokenparts(thiscanincludeimaginingcolourssincemanyancientstonesculpturesandinscriptionswerebrightlypainted)

DrawingisoftenbestdonewhilelookingattheobjectsthemselvesinthemuseumHoweveryoucanexperimentwithworkingfromimagesontheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionscatalogue

SomeobjectsintheAshLIcataloguehavebeenphotographedusingaprocesscalledRTI(youcanfindthemathttplatininscriptionsashmusoxacukcollectionsrti)ThisallowsyoutodragthelightsourcearoundandviewthetextureoftheinscriptionToviewanRTIimageclickontheldquoRTI

imagerdquolinkfortheobjectThenclickthe icontoviewfullscreenandthe icontomovethelightsourcebyclickingontheimageanddraggingthemouseThisshouldgiveaclearsenseofthetextureoftheobjectrsquossurface

ResearchactivitiesareanothergoodwaytoencouragedetailedthinkingaboutobjectsTry

bull AskingstudentstodoresearchfromaninformationsourcewithastricttimelimitWhatweretheyabletolearninthetimeandwhatquestionsdotheystillhaveabouttheobject

bull DebatingtheobjectsimagineyouareamuseumcuratorandyoucanaddoneoftheseobjectstoyourcollectionWhichoneshoulditbeandwhyThinkaboutwhatismoreimportantinamuseumobjectbeautyconnectionstofamouspeopleshowingthelivesofordinarypeoplehowmuchmoneyitisworthorsomethingelseentirelyHaveaclassdebatetodecidebetweenthemostpopularobjects

bull LookatthepeoplebehindtheobjectsandwriteastoryfromtheirperspectiveWhatdidtheobjectmeantothemWorkinsomefactsfromyourresearchandfeelfreetoinventdetails

bull OrimaginethelifeoftheobjectitselfWhatwoulditsayifitcouldtalkWhatkindsofthingshasitexperienced

bull TwotruthsandaliendashGoroundtheclassaskingstudentstopickoutsomefactsabouttheobjectandtrytofooleveryoneelsebyslippinginoneplausiblelieGettheclasstovoteonwhichisthefib

bull Writetheirownmuseumlabelfortheobjectndashdecidewhatfactsaremostimportantabouttheobjectandhowtocapturepeoplersquosimaginationinasmallspace

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

bull Makeaposteraboutyourfavouriteobjectusingeye-catchingimagesandclearexplanatorytexttohelppeopleunderstandit

bull MakeconnectionsbetweenobjectsTakeagroupofobjectsandsortthembythethingstheyhaveincommon

bull ArrangetheobjectsonatimelineoronamapThinkabouthowlargetheRomanempirewasandhowlongitlasted

TheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionscataloguepagesofferdetailedinformationabouttheobjectsCataloguepagesaredesignedtobedetailedenoughforexpertsandprofessionalstouseintheirresearchbutmightbeusefulforpractisingtheskillsofskimreadingandpickingoutthemostrelevantinformation

ForslightlyeasierresearchmaterialthereisasetoffactsheetsaboutselectedAshmoleanLatininscriptionsincludedaspartofthispack

Findingoutmore

TheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionsProject(AshLI)

bull Webcatalogueandteacherresourceshttplatininscriptionsashmusoxacukbull BloghttpwwwashmoleanorgashwpresslatininscriptionsorsearchlsquoReadingWriting

Romansrsquobull TwitterAshmoleanLatin

WarwickEpigraphy

bull LinkstoInscriptionCollectionsandResourceshttpwww2warwickacukfacartsclassicspostgradsmodulesepigraphybibliogonline

bull TwitterW_Epigraphy

RomanInscriptionsofBritain(RIB)

bull httpromaninscriptionsofbritainorg

CurseTabletsofRomanBritain

bull httpcursescsadoxacuk

LettersfromHadrianrsquosWall(Vindolanda)

bull httpvindolandacsadoxacuk

AlisonCooleyTheCambridgeManualofLatinEpigraphy(CUP2012)

Page 4: Teaching with Latin Inscriptions · The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptions.ashmus.ox.ac.uk Teaching Latin Inscriptions with Confidence Latin inscriptions can be

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Decipheringaninscription

Thisexampleshowsepigraphicnotationinaction

Text Edition

Translation

TICLAVDIODRVS

CAESARIAVGGERM

PONTMAXTRIBPOT

VIIIIIMPXVICOSIIII

PPCENSORI

VIC

Ti(berio)degClaudiodegDrus[if(ilio)]CaesaridegAug(usto)degGerm(anico)pont(ifici)degmax(imo)degtrib(unicia)degpot(estate)degVIIIIdegimp(eratori)degXVIdegco(n)s(uli)degIIIIdeg5p(atri)degp(atriae)deg(vac)censoridegvic(us)[-]

lsquoToTiberiusClaudiusCaesarAugustusGermanicussonofDrusussupremepontiffholderoftribunicianpowerforthe9thtimehailedvictoriousgeneralforthe16thtimeconsulforthe4thtimefatherofhiscountycensorThe[-]district(setthisup)rsquo

TopracticetheseskillstrytheDIYEdityourownInscriptionactivityinthispack

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Readinginscriptions

SpacewasoftenatapremiumoninscriptionssoRomanshadtheirownshorthandforwritingthemSometimeswordsrunintoeachotherwithoutspacessothefirsttaskistoidentifytheindividualwordsSmalldots(calledinterpuncts)oftenappearbetweenwordsNotallinscriptionshavetheseandsometimestheyareusedinconsistentlybuttheycanbehelpfulinpickingoutindividualwords

CommonlyusednameswordsandphraseswereoftenabbreviatedEpigraphicpublications(liketheexampleabove)willoftenexpandabbreviationsforyouHoweveritishelpfultoknowthemostcommonabbreviations

Firstnames(Praenomina)

Abbreviation NameL LuciusP PubliusC GaiusM MarcusTi TiberiusA AulusMrsquo ManiusCN GnaeusD DecimusQ Quintus

Commontitles

Abbreviation TitlePONTMAX PontifexMaximusChiefpontiff

TRIBPOT tribuniciapotestaswithtribunicianpower

IMP

Imperator

COS

consulthehighestpoliticaloffice

PP paterpatriaelsquoFatherofthecountryrsquo

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Funeraryformulae

Abbreviation Fullphrase TranslationDM DisManibus Tothegodsbelow

F FiliusFilia Sondaughter

VixAnnMD

VixitAnnosMensesDies

livedforhellipyearshellipmonthshellipdays

STTL SitTibiTerraLevis Maytheearthlielightlyonyou

BM

BeneMerenti Welldeserving

F

Fecit Madethis

HSE

HicSitusSitaEst isburiedhere

VAPM

vixitannosplusminus Livedmoreorlesshellipyears

TheldquoCrackingCodesrdquoPowerPointandworksheetaredesignedtointroducetheseabbreviationsandpracticereadingrealfuneraryinscriptionswithLatinlearnersThepresentationnotesincludefulltranslationsandpointoutinterestingfactsabouttheseobjects

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Readingatombstone

Romantombstonesareoftenhighlyformulaicand(withabitofpractice)easytoread

Toreadatypicaltombstone

1 Lookforname(s)inthedativecaseThisisusuallytheperson(orpeople)forwhomthegravestonewaserectedIntheexampleabovethenameisDecimusAemiliusVitalis

2 Lookforname(s)inthenominativecaseThisisusuallytheperson(orpeople)whosetupthegravestoneSometimestheverbFecitFeceruntisincludedtomakethisclearIntheexampleabovethisphraseisClodiaHeliceMaterFecit

3 LookforanyfamiliarformulaeandabbreviationsInthiscase

=Vixitannos

=dies(youcantellthedifferencebetweenthisandtheDthatstandsforDecimusinthefirstlinebycontext)

4 Translateanyphrasesthatremainandputitalltogether

ThefulltranslationfortheexampleaboveisldquoForDecimusAemiliusVitalisHelivedfor25years48daysClodiaHelicehismothersetthisuprdquo

TheTombstonesandtheDativeCaseworksheetandCrackingCodespresentationcanbeusedtointroduceyourstudentstoreadingfuneraryinscriptions

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Teachingwithobjects

LatininscriptionsareasimportantforwhattheytellusasobjectsasforthewritingonthemTeachingwithobjectsismosteffectivewhenitencourageslearnerstolookcloselyattheobjectsandthinkthroughwhattheycantellus

DrawingactivitiescanbegreatforgettingstudentstolookcloselyatobjectsandaskmoredetailedquestionsTry

bull SketchingtheobjectandannotatingthesketchwiththingslikesizecolourandpersonalimpressionsDescribewhatisbeingdepictedinanyimagesandmakeacleartranscriptionofthewords

bull ObservationaldrawingndashlookingcloselyandtryingtorepresenttheinscriptionasaccuratelyaspossibleToreallyfocusontheobjectyoucantrydrawingwithoutlookingatthepaper

bull Drawingandfillinginmissingorbrokenparts(thiscanincludeimaginingcolourssincemanyancientstonesculpturesandinscriptionswerebrightlypainted)

DrawingisoftenbestdonewhilelookingattheobjectsthemselvesinthemuseumHoweveryoucanexperimentwithworkingfromimagesontheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionscatalogue

SomeobjectsintheAshLIcataloguehavebeenphotographedusingaprocesscalledRTI(youcanfindthemathttplatininscriptionsashmusoxacukcollectionsrti)ThisallowsyoutodragthelightsourcearoundandviewthetextureoftheinscriptionToviewanRTIimageclickontheldquoRTI

imagerdquolinkfortheobjectThenclickthe icontoviewfullscreenandthe icontomovethelightsourcebyclickingontheimageanddraggingthemouseThisshouldgiveaclearsenseofthetextureoftheobjectrsquossurface

ResearchactivitiesareanothergoodwaytoencouragedetailedthinkingaboutobjectsTry

bull AskingstudentstodoresearchfromaninformationsourcewithastricttimelimitWhatweretheyabletolearninthetimeandwhatquestionsdotheystillhaveabouttheobject

bull DebatingtheobjectsimagineyouareamuseumcuratorandyoucanaddoneoftheseobjectstoyourcollectionWhichoneshoulditbeandwhyThinkaboutwhatismoreimportantinamuseumobjectbeautyconnectionstofamouspeopleshowingthelivesofordinarypeoplehowmuchmoneyitisworthorsomethingelseentirelyHaveaclassdebatetodecidebetweenthemostpopularobjects

bull LookatthepeoplebehindtheobjectsandwriteastoryfromtheirperspectiveWhatdidtheobjectmeantothemWorkinsomefactsfromyourresearchandfeelfreetoinventdetails

bull OrimaginethelifeoftheobjectitselfWhatwoulditsayifitcouldtalkWhatkindsofthingshasitexperienced

bull TwotruthsandaliendashGoroundtheclassaskingstudentstopickoutsomefactsabouttheobjectandtrytofooleveryoneelsebyslippinginoneplausiblelieGettheclasstovoteonwhichisthefib

bull Writetheirownmuseumlabelfortheobjectndashdecidewhatfactsaremostimportantabouttheobjectandhowtocapturepeoplersquosimaginationinasmallspace

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

bull Makeaposteraboutyourfavouriteobjectusingeye-catchingimagesandclearexplanatorytexttohelppeopleunderstandit

bull MakeconnectionsbetweenobjectsTakeagroupofobjectsandsortthembythethingstheyhaveincommon

bull ArrangetheobjectsonatimelineoronamapThinkabouthowlargetheRomanempirewasandhowlongitlasted

TheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionscataloguepagesofferdetailedinformationabouttheobjectsCataloguepagesaredesignedtobedetailedenoughforexpertsandprofessionalstouseintheirresearchbutmightbeusefulforpractisingtheskillsofskimreadingandpickingoutthemostrelevantinformation

ForslightlyeasierresearchmaterialthereisasetoffactsheetsaboutselectedAshmoleanLatininscriptionsincludedaspartofthispack

Findingoutmore

TheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionsProject(AshLI)

bull Webcatalogueandteacherresourceshttplatininscriptionsashmusoxacukbull BloghttpwwwashmoleanorgashwpresslatininscriptionsorsearchlsquoReadingWriting

Romansrsquobull TwitterAshmoleanLatin

WarwickEpigraphy

bull LinkstoInscriptionCollectionsandResourceshttpwww2warwickacukfacartsclassicspostgradsmodulesepigraphybibliogonline

bull TwitterW_Epigraphy

RomanInscriptionsofBritain(RIB)

bull httpromaninscriptionsofbritainorg

CurseTabletsofRomanBritain

bull httpcursescsadoxacuk

LettersfromHadrianrsquosWall(Vindolanda)

bull httpvindolandacsadoxacuk

AlisonCooleyTheCambridgeManualofLatinEpigraphy(CUP2012)

Page 5: Teaching with Latin Inscriptions · The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptions.ashmus.ox.ac.uk Teaching Latin Inscriptions with Confidence Latin inscriptions can be

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Readinginscriptions

SpacewasoftenatapremiumoninscriptionssoRomanshadtheirownshorthandforwritingthemSometimeswordsrunintoeachotherwithoutspacessothefirsttaskistoidentifytheindividualwordsSmalldots(calledinterpuncts)oftenappearbetweenwordsNotallinscriptionshavetheseandsometimestheyareusedinconsistentlybuttheycanbehelpfulinpickingoutindividualwords

CommonlyusednameswordsandphraseswereoftenabbreviatedEpigraphicpublications(liketheexampleabove)willoftenexpandabbreviationsforyouHoweveritishelpfultoknowthemostcommonabbreviations

Firstnames(Praenomina)

Abbreviation NameL LuciusP PubliusC GaiusM MarcusTi TiberiusA AulusMrsquo ManiusCN GnaeusD DecimusQ Quintus

Commontitles

Abbreviation TitlePONTMAX PontifexMaximusChiefpontiff

TRIBPOT tribuniciapotestaswithtribunicianpower

IMP

Imperator

COS

consulthehighestpoliticaloffice

PP paterpatriaelsquoFatherofthecountryrsquo

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Funeraryformulae

Abbreviation Fullphrase TranslationDM DisManibus Tothegodsbelow

F FiliusFilia Sondaughter

VixAnnMD

VixitAnnosMensesDies

livedforhellipyearshellipmonthshellipdays

STTL SitTibiTerraLevis Maytheearthlielightlyonyou

BM

BeneMerenti Welldeserving

F

Fecit Madethis

HSE

HicSitusSitaEst isburiedhere

VAPM

vixitannosplusminus Livedmoreorlesshellipyears

TheldquoCrackingCodesrdquoPowerPointandworksheetaredesignedtointroducetheseabbreviationsandpracticereadingrealfuneraryinscriptionswithLatinlearnersThepresentationnotesincludefulltranslationsandpointoutinterestingfactsabouttheseobjects

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Readingatombstone

Romantombstonesareoftenhighlyformulaicand(withabitofpractice)easytoread

Toreadatypicaltombstone

1 Lookforname(s)inthedativecaseThisisusuallytheperson(orpeople)forwhomthegravestonewaserectedIntheexampleabovethenameisDecimusAemiliusVitalis

2 Lookforname(s)inthenominativecaseThisisusuallytheperson(orpeople)whosetupthegravestoneSometimestheverbFecitFeceruntisincludedtomakethisclearIntheexampleabovethisphraseisClodiaHeliceMaterFecit

3 LookforanyfamiliarformulaeandabbreviationsInthiscase

=Vixitannos

=dies(youcantellthedifferencebetweenthisandtheDthatstandsforDecimusinthefirstlinebycontext)

4 Translateanyphrasesthatremainandputitalltogether

ThefulltranslationfortheexampleaboveisldquoForDecimusAemiliusVitalisHelivedfor25years48daysClodiaHelicehismothersetthisuprdquo

TheTombstonesandtheDativeCaseworksheetandCrackingCodespresentationcanbeusedtointroduceyourstudentstoreadingfuneraryinscriptions

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Teachingwithobjects

LatininscriptionsareasimportantforwhattheytellusasobjectsasforthewritingonthemTeachingwithobjectsismosteffectivewhenitencourageslearnerstolookcloselyattheobjectsandthinkthroughwhattheycantellus

DrawingactivitiescanbegreatforgettingstudentstolookcloselyatobjectsandaskmoredetailedquestionsTry

bull SketchingtheobjectandannotatingthesketchwiththingslikesizecolourandpersonalimpressionsDescribewhatisbeingdepictedinanyimagesandmakeacleartranscriptionofthewords

bull ObservationaldrawingndashlookingcloselyandtryingtorepresenttheinscriptionasaccuratelyaspossibleToreallyfocusontheobjectyoucantrydrawingwithoutlookingatthepaper

bull Drawingandfillinginmissingorbrokenparts(thiscanincludeimaginingcolourssincemanyancientstonesculpturesandinscriptionswerebrightlypainted)

DrawingisoftenbestdonewhilelookingattheobjectsthemselvesinthemuseumHoweveryoucanexperimentwithworkingfromimagesontheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionscatalogue

SomeobjectsintheAshLIcataloguehavebeenphotographedusingaprocesscalledRTI(youcanfindthemathttplatininscriptionsashmusoxacukcollectionsrti)ThisallowsyoutodragthelightsourcearoundandviewthetextureoftheinscriptionToviewanRTIimageclickontheldquoRTI

imagerdquolinkfortheobjectThenclickthe icontoviewfullscreenandthe icontomovethelightsourcebyclickingontheimageanddraggingthemouseThisshouldgiveaclearsenseofthetextureoftheobjectrsquossurface

ResearchactivitiesareanothergoodwaytoencouragedetailedthinkingaboutobjectsTry

bull AskingstudentstodoresearchfromaninformationsourcewithastricttimelimitWhatweretheyabletolearninthetimeandwhatquestionsdotheystillhaveabouttheobject

bull DebatingtheobjectsimagineyouareamuseumcuratorandyoucanaddoneoftheseobjectstoyourcollectionWhichoneshoulditbeandwhyThinkaboutwhatismoreimportantinamuseumobjectbeautyconnectionstofamouspeopleshowingthelivesofordinarypeoplehowmuchmoneyitisworthorsomethingelseentirelyHaveaclassdebatetodecidebetweenthemostpopularobjects

bull LookatthepeoplebehindtheobjectsandwriteastoryfromtheirperspectiveWhatdidtheobjectmeantothemWorkinsomefactsfromyourresearchandfeelfreetoinventdetails

bull OrimaginethelifeoftheobjectitselfWhatwoulditsayifitcouldtalkWhatkindsofthingshasitexperienced

bull TwotruthsandaliendashGoroundtheclassaskingstudentstopickoutsomefactsabouttheobjectandtrytofooleveryoneelsebyslippinginoneplausiblelieGettheclasstovoteonwhichisthefib

bull Writetheirownmuseumlabelfortheobjectndashdecidewhatfactsaremostimportantabouttheobjectandhowtocapturepeoplersquosimaginationinasmallspace

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

bull Makeaposteraboutyourfavouriteobjectusingeye-catchingimagesandclearexplanatorytexttohelppeopleunderstandit

bull MakeconnectionsbetweenobjectsTakeagroupofobjectsandsortthembythethingstheyhaveincommon

bull ArrangetheobjectsonatimelineoronamapThinkabouthowlargetheRomanempirewasandhowlongitlasted

TheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionscataloguepagesofferdetailedinformationabouttheobjectsCataloguepagesaredesignedtobedetailedenoughforexpertsandprofessionalstouseintheirresearchbutmightbeusefulforpractisingtheskillsofskimreadingandpickingoutthemostrelevantinformation

ForslightlyeasierresearchmaterialthereisasetoffactsheetsaboutselectedAshmoleanLatininscriptionsincludedaspartofthispack

Findingoutmore

TheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionsProject(AshLI)

bull Webcatalogueandteacherresourceshttplatininscriptionsashmusoxacukbull BloghttpwwwashmoleanorgashwpresslatininscriptionsorsearchlsquoReadingWriting

Romansrsquobull TwitterAshmoleanLatin

WarwickEpigraphy

bull LinkstoInscriptionCollectionsandResourceshttpwww2warwickacukfacartsclassicspostgradsmodulesepigraphybibliogonline

bull TwitterW_Epigraphy

RomanInscriptionsofBritain(RIB)

bull httpromaninscriptionsofbritainorg

CurseTabletsofRomanBritain

bull httpcursescsadoxacuk

LettersfromHadrianrsquosWall(Vindolanda)

bull httpvindolandacsadoxacuk

AlisonCooleyTheCambridgeManualofLatinEpigraphy(CUP2012)

Page 6: Teaching with Latin Inscriptions · The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptions.ashmus.ox.ac.uk Teaching Latin Inscriptions with Confidence Latin inscriptions can be

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Funeraryformulae

Abbreviation Fullphrase TranslationDM DisManibus Tothegodsbelow

F FiliusFilia Sondaughter

VixAnnMD

VixitAnnosMensesDies

livedforhellipyearshellipmonthshellipdays

STTL SitTibiTerraLevis Maytheearthlielightlyonyou

BM

BeneMerenti Welldeserving

F

Fecit Madethis

HSE

HicSitusSitaEst isburiedhere

VAPM

vixitannosplusminus Livedmoreorlesshellipyears

TheldquoCrackingCodesrdquoPowerPointandworksheetaredesignedtointroducetheseabbreviationsandpracticereadingrealfuneraryinscriptionswithLatinlearnersThepresentationnotesincludefulltranslationsandpointoutinterestingfactsabouttheseobjects

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Readingatombstone

Romantombstonesareoftenhighlyformulaicand(withabitofpractice)easytoread

Toreadatypicaltombstone

1 Lookforname(s)inthedativecaseThisisusuallytheperson(orpeople)forwhomthegravestonewaserectedIntheexampleabovethenameisDecimusAemiliusVitalis

2 Lookforname(s)inthenominativecaseThisisusuallytheperson(orpeople)whosetupthegravestoneSometimestheverbFecitFeceruntisincludedtomakethisclearIntheexampleabovethisphraseisClodiaHeliceMaterFecit

3 LookforanyfamiliarformulaeandabbreviationsInthiscase

=Vixitannos

=dies(youcantellthedifferencebetweenthisandtheDthatstandsforDecimusinthefirstlinebycontext)

4 Translateanyphrasesthatremainandputitalltogether

ThefulltranslationfortheexampleaboveisldquoForDecimusAemiliusVitalisHelivedfor25years48daysClodiaHelicehismothersetthisuprdquo

TheTombstonesandtheDativeCaseworksheetandCrackingCodespresentationcanbeusedtointroduceyourstudentstoreadingfuneraryinscriptions

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Teachingwithobjects

LatininscriptionsareasimportantforwhattheytellusasobjectsasforthewritingonthemTeachingwithobjectsismosteffectivewhenitencourageslearnerstolookcloselyattheobjectsandthinkthroughwhattheycantellus

DrawingactivitiescanbegreatforgettingstudentstolookcloselyatobjectsandaskmoredetailedquestionsTry

bull SketchingtheobjectandannotatingthesketchwiththingslikesizecolourandpersonalimpressionsDescribewhatisbeingdepictedinanyimagesandmakeacleartranscriptionofthewords

bull ObservationaldrawingndashlookingcloselyandtryingtorepresenttheinscriptionasaccuratelyaspossibleToreallyfocusontheobjectyoucantrydrawingwithoutlookingatthepaper

bull Drawingandfillinginmissingorbrokenparts(thiscanincludeimaginingcolourssincemanyancientstonesculpturesandinscriptionswerebrightlypainted)

DrawingisoftenbestdonewhilelookingattheobjectsthemselvesinthemuseumHoweveryoucanexperimentwithworkingfromimagesontheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionscatalogue

SomeobjectsintheAshLIcataloguehavebeenphotographedusingaprocesscalledRTI(youcanfindthemathttplatininscriptionsashmusoxacukcollectionsrti)ThisallowsyoutodragthelightsourcearoundandviewthetextureoftheinscriptionToviewanRTIimageclickontheldquoRTI

imagerdquolinkfortheobjectThenclickthe icontoviewfullscreenandthe icontomovethelightsourcebyclickingontheimageanddraggingthemouseThisshouldgiveaclearsenseofthetextureoftheobjectrsquossurface

ResearchactivitiesareanothergoodwaytoencouragedetailedthinkingaboutobjectsTry

bull AskingstudentstodoresearchfromaninformationsourcewithastricttimelimitWhatweretheyabletolearninthetimeandwhatquestionsdotheystillhaveabouttheobject

bull DebatingtheobjectsimagineyouareamuseumcuratorandyoucanaddoneoftheseobjectstoyourcollectionWhichoneshoulditbeandwhyThinkaboutwhatismoreimportantinamuseumobjectbeautyconnectionstofamouspeopleshowingthelivesofordinarypeoplehowmuchmoneyitisworthorsomethingelseentirelyHaveaclassdebatetodecidebetweenthemostpopularobjects

bull LookatthepeoplebehindtheobjectsandwriteastoryfromtheirperspectiveWhatdidtheobjectmeantothemWorkinsomefactsfromyourresearchandfeelfreetoinventdetails

bull OrimaginethelifeoftheobjectitselfWhatwoulditsayifitcouldtalkWhatkindsofthingshasitexperienced

bull TwotruthsandaliendashGoroundtheclassaskingstudentstopickoutsomefactsabouttheobjectandtrytofooleveryoneelsebyslippinginoneplausiblelieGettheclasstovoteonwhichisthefib

bull Writetheirownmuseumlabelfortheobjectndashdecidewhatfactsaremostimportantabouttheobjectandhowtocapturepeoplersquosimaginationinasmallspace

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

bull Makeaposteraboutyourfavouriteobjectusingeye-catchingimagesandclearexplanatorytexttohelppeopleunderstandit

bull MakeconnectionsbetweenobjectsTakeagroupofobjectsandsortthembythethingstheyhaveincommon

bull ArrangetheobjectsonatimelineoronamapThinkabouthowlargetheRomanempirewasandhowlongitlasted

TheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionscataloguepagesofferdetailedinformationabouttheobjectsCataloguepagesaredesignedtobedetailedenoughforexpertsandprofessionalstouseintheirresearchbutmightbeusefulforpractisingtheskillsofskimreadingandpickingoutthemostrelevantinformation

ForslightlyeasierresearchmaterialthereisasetoffactsheetsaboutselectedAshmoleanLatininscriptionsincludedaspartofthispack

Findingoutmore

TheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionsProject(AshLI)

bull Webcatalogueandteacherresourceshttplatininscriptionsashmusoxacukbull BloghttpwwwashmoleanorgashwpresslatininscriptionsorsearchlsquoReadingWriting

Romansrsquobull TwitterAshmoleanLatin

WarwickEpigraphy

bull LinkstoInscriptionCollectionsandResourceshttpwww2warwickacukfacartsclassicspostgradsmodulesepigraphybibliogonline

bull TwitterW_Epigraphy

RomanInscriptionsofBritain(RIB)

bull httpromaninscriptionsofbritainorg

CurseTabletsofRomanBritain

bull httpcursescsadoxacuk

LettersfromHadrianrsquosWall(Vindolanda)

bull httpvindolandacsadoxacuk

AlisonCooleyTheCambridgeManualofLatinEpigraphy(CUP2012)

Page 7: Teaching with Latin Inscriptions · The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptions.ashmus.ox.ac.uk Teaching Latin Inscriptions with Confidence Latin inscriptions can be

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Readingatombstone

Romantombstonesareoftenhighlyformulaicand(withabitofpractice)easytoread

Toreadatypicaltombstone

1 Lookforname(s)inthedativecaseThisisusuallytheperson(orpeople)forwhomthegravestonewaserectedIntheexampleabovethenameisDecimusAemiliusVitalis

2 Lookforname(s)inthenominativecaseThisisusuallytheperson(orpeople)whosetupthegravestoneSometimestheverbFecitFeceruntisincludedtomakethisclearIntheexampleabovethisphraseisClodiaHeliceMaterFecit

3 LookforanyfamiliarformulaeandabbreviationsInthiscase

=Vixitannos

=dies(youcantellthedifferencebetweenthisandtheDthatstandsforDecimusinthefirstlinebycontext)

4 Translateanyphrasesthatremainandputitalltogether

ThefulltranslationfortheexampleaboveisldquoForDecimusAemiliusVitalisHelivedfor25years48daysClodiaHelicehismothersetthisuprdquo

TheTombstonesandtheDativeCaseworksheetandCrackingCodespresentationcanbeusedtointroduceyourstudentstoreadingfuneraryinscriptions

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Teachingwithobjects

LatininscriptionsareasimportantforwhattheytellusasobjectsasforthewritingonthemTeachingwithobjectsismosteffectivewhenitencourageslearnerstolookcloselyattheobjectsandthinkthroughwhattheycantellus

DrawingactivitiescanbegreatforgettingstudentstolookcloselyatobjectsandaskmoredetailedquestionsTry

bull SketchingtheobjectandannotatingthesketchwiththingslikesizecolourandpersonalimpressionsDescribewhatisbeingdepictedinanyimagesandmakeacleartranscriptionofthewords

bull ObservationaldrawingndashlookingcloselyandtryingtorepresenttheinscriptionasaccuratelyaspossibleToreallyfocusontheobjectyoucantrydrawingwithoutlookingatthepaper

bull Drawingandfillinginmissingorbrokenparts(thiscanincludeimaginingcolourssincemanyancientstonesculpturesandinscriptionswerebrightlypainted)

DrawingisoftenbestdonewhilelookingattheobjectsthemselvesinthemuseumHoweveryoucanexperimentwithworkingfromimagesontheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionscatalogue

SomeobjectsintheAshLIcataloguehavebeenphotographedusingaprocesscalledRTI(youcanfindthemathttplatininscriptionsashmusoxacukcollectionsrti)ThisallowsyoutodragthelightsourcearoundandviewthetextureoftheinscriptionToviewanRTIimageclickontheldquoRTI

imagerdquolinkfortheobjectThenclickthe icontoviewfullscreenandthe icontomovethelightsourcebyclickingontheimageanddraggingthemouseThisshouldgiveaclearsenseofthetextureoftheobjectrsquossurface

ResearchactivitiesareanothergoodwaytoencouragedetailedthinkingaboutobjectsTry

bull AskingstudentstodoresearchfromaninformationsourcewithastricttimelimitWhatweretheyabletolearninthetimeandwhatquestionsdotheystillhaveabouttheobject

bull DebatingtheobjectsimagineyouareamuseumcuratorandyoucanaddoneoftheseobjectstoyourcollectionWhichoneshoulditbeandwhyThinkaboutwhatismoreimportantinamuseumobjectbeautyconnectionstofamouspeopleshowingthelivesofordinarypeoplehowmuchmoneyitisworthorsomethingelseentirelyHaveaclassdebatetodecidebetweenthemostpopularobjects

bull LookatthepeoplebehindtheobjectsandwriteastoryfromtheirperspectiveWhatdidtheobjectmeantothemWorkinsomefactsfromyourresearchandfeelfreetoinventdetails

bull OrimaginethelifeoftheobjectitselfWhatwoulditsayifitcouldtalkWhatkindsofthingshasitexperienced

bull TwotruthsandaliendashGoroundtheclassaskingstudentstopickoutsomefactsabouttheobjectandtrytofooleveryoneelsebyslippinginoneplausiblelieGettheclasstovoteonwhichisthefib

bull Writetheirownmuseumlabelfortheobjectndashdecidewhatfactsaremostimportantabouttheobjectandhowtocapturepeoplersquosimaginationinasmallspace

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

bull Makeaposteraboutyourfavouriteobjectusingeye-catchingimagesandclearexplanatorytexttohelppeopleunderstandit

bull MakeconnectionsbetweenobjectsTakeagroupofobjectsandsortthembythethingstheyhaveincommon

bull ArrangetheobjectsonatimelineoronamapThinkabouthowlargetheRomanempirewasandhowlongitlasted

TheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionscataloguepagesofferdetailedinformationabouttheobjectsCataloguepagesaredesignedtobedetailedenoughforexpertsandprofessionalstouseintheirresearchbutmightbeusefulforpractisingtheskillsofskimreadingandpickingoutthemostrelevantinformation

ForslightlyeasierresearchmaterialthereisasetoffactsheetsaboutselectedAshmoleanLatininscriptionsincludedaspartofthispack

Findingoutmore

TheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionsProject(AshLI)

bull Webcatalogueandteacherresourceshttplatininscriptionsashmusoxacukbull BloghttpwwwashmoleanorgashwpresslatininscriptionsorsearchlsquoReadingWriting

Romansrsquobull TwitterAshmoleanLatin

WarwickEpigraphy

bull LinkstoInscriptionCollectionsandResourceshttpwww2warwickacukfacartsclassicspostgradsmodulesepigraphybibliogonline

bull TwitterW_Epigraphy

RomanInscriptionsofBritain(RIB)

bull httpromaninscriptionsofbritainorg

CurseTabletsofRomanBritain

bull httpcursescsadoxacuk

LettersfromHadrianrsquosWall(Vindolanda)

bull httpvindolandacsadoxacuk

AlisonCooleyTheCambridgeManualofLatinEpigraphy(CUP2012)

Page 8: Teaching with Latin Inscriptions · The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptions.ashmus.ox.ac.uk Teaching Latin Inscriptions with Confidence Latin inscriptions can be

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

Teachingwithobjects

LatininscriptionsareasimportantforwhattheytellusasobjectsasforthewritingonthemTeachingwithobjectsismosteffectivewhenitencourageslearnerstolookcloselyattheobjectsandthinkthroughwhattheycantellus

DrawingactivitiescanbegreatforgettingstudentstolookcloselyatobjectsandaskmoredetailedquestionsTry

bull SketchingtheobjectandannotatingthesketchwiththingslikesizecolourandpersonalimpressionsDescribewhatisbeingdepictedinanyimagesandmakeacleartranscriptionofthewords

bull ObservationaldrawingndashlookingcloselyandtryingtorepresenttheinscriptionasaccuratelyaspossibleToreallyfocusontheobjectyoucantrydrawingwithoutlookingatthepaper

bull Drawingandfillinginmissingorbrokenparts(thiscanincludeimaginingcolourssincemanyancientstonesculpturesandinscriptionswerebrightlypainted)

DrawingisoftenbestdonewhilelookingattheobjectsthemselvesinthemuseumHoweveryoucanexperimentwithworkingfromimagesontheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionscatalogue

SomeobjectsintheAshLIcataloguehavebeenphotographedusingaprocesscalledRTI(youcanfindthemathttplatininscriptionsashmusoxacukcollectionsrti)ThisallowsyoutodragthelightsourcearoundandviewthetextureoftheinscriptionToviewanRTIimageclickontheldquoRTI

imagerdquolinkfortheobjectThenclickthe icontoviewfullscreenandthe icontomovethelightsourcebyclickingontheimageanddraggingthemouseThisshouldgiveaclearsenseofthetextureoftheobjectrsquossurface

ResearchactivitiesareanothergoodwaytoencouragedetailedthinkingaboutobjectsTry

bull AskingstudentstodoresearchfromaninformationsourcewithastricttimelimitWhatweretheyabletolearninthetimeandwhatquestionsdotheystillhaveabouttheobject

bull DebatingtheobjectsimagineyouareamuseumcuratorandyoucanaddoneoftheseobjectstoyourcollectionWhichoneshoulditbeandwhyThinkaboutwhatismoreimportantinamuseumobjectbeautyconnectionstofamouspeopleshowingthelivesofordinarypeoplehowmuchmoneyitisworthorsomethingelseentirelyHaveaclassdebatetodecidebetweenthemostpopularobjects

bull LookatthepeoplebehindtheobjectsandwriteastoryfromtheirperspectiveWhatdidtheobjectmeantothemWorkinsomefactsfromyourresearchandfeelfreetoinventdetails

bull OrimaginethelifeoftheobjectitselfWhatwoulditsayifitcouldtalkWhatkindsofthingshasitexperienced

bull TwotruthsandaliendashGoroundtheclassaskingstudentstopickoutsomefactsabouttheobjectandtrytofooleveryoneelsebyslippinginoneplausiblelieGettheclasstovoteonwhichisthefib

bull Writetheirownmuseumlabelfortheobjectndashdecidewhatfactsaremostimportantabouttheobjectandhowtocapturepeoplersquosimaginationinasmallspace

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

bull Makeaposteraboutyourfavouriteobjectusingeye-catchingimagesandclearexplanatorytexttohelppeopleunderstandit

bull MakeconnectionsbetweenobjectsTakeagroupofobjectsandsortthembythethingstheyhaveincommon

bull ArrangetheobjectsonatimelineoronamapThinkabouthowlargetheRomanempirewasandhowlongitlasted

TheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionscataloguepagesofferdetailedinformationabouttheobjectsCataloguepagesaredesignedtobedetailedenoughforexpertsandprofessionalstouseintheirresearchbutmightbeusefulforpractisingtheskillsofskimreadingandpickingoutthemostrelevantinformation

ForslightlyeasierresearchmaterialthereisasetoffactsheetsaboutselectedAshmoleanLatininscriptionsincludedaspartofthispack

Findingoutmore

TheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionsProject(AshLI)

bull Webcatalogueandteacherresourceshttplatininscriptionsashmusoxacukbull BloghttpwwwashmoleanorgashwpresslatininscriptionsorsearchlsquoReadingWriting

Romansrsquobull TwitterAshmoleanLatin

WarwickEpigraphy

bull LinkstoInscriptionCollectionsandResourceshttpwww2warwickacukfacartsclassicspostgradsmodulesepigraphybibliogonline

bull TwitterW_Epigraphy

RomanInscriptionsofBritain(RIB)

bull httpromaninscriptionsofbritainorg

CurseTabletsofRomanBritain

bull httpcursescsadoxacuk

LettersfromHadrianrsquosWall(Vindolanda)

bull httpvindolandacsadoxacuk

AlisonCooleyTheCambridgeManualofLatinEpigraphy(CUP2012)

Page 9: Teaching with Latin Inscriptions · The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptions.ashmus.ox.ac.uk Teaching Latin Inscriptions with Confidence Latin inscriptions can be

The Ashmolean Latin Inscriptions Project latininscriptionsashmusoxacuk

bull Makeaposteraboutyourfavouriteobjectusingeye-catchingimagesandclearexplanatorytexttohelppeopleunderstandit

bull MakeconnectionsbetweenobjectsTakeagroupofobjectsandsortthembythethingstheyhaveincommon

bull ArrangetheobjectsonatimelineoronamapThinkabouthowlargetheRomanempirewasandhowlongitlasted

TheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionscataloguepagesofferdetailedinformationabouttheobjectsCataloguepagesaredesignedtobedetailedenoughforexpertsandprofessionalstouseintheirresearchbutmightbeusefulforpractisingtheskillsofskimreadingandpickingoutthemostrelevantinformation

ForslightlyeasierresearchmaterialthereisasetoffactsheetsaboutselectedAshmoleanLatininscriptionsincludedaspartofthispack

Findingoutmore

TheAshmoleanLatinInscriptionsProject(AshLI)

bull Webcatalogueandteacherresourceshttplatininscriptionsashmusoxacukbull BloghttpwwwashmoleanorgashwpresslatininscriptionsorsearchlsquoReadingWriting

Romansrsquobull TwitterAshmoleanLatin

WarwickEpigraphy

bull LinkstoInscriptionCollectionsandResourceshttpwww2warwickacukfacartsclassicspostgradsmodulesepigraphybibliogonline

bull TwitterW_Epigraphy

RomanInscriptionsofBritain(RIB)

bull httpromaninscriptionsofbritainorg

CurseTabletsofRomanBritain

bull httpcursescsadoxacuk

LettersfromHadrianrsquosWall(Vindolanda)

bull httpvindolandacsadoxacuk

AlisonCooleyTheCambridgeManualofLatinEpigraphy(CUP2012)