Epigraphy is the name given to the practice of writing on durable material, such as stone or metal (instead of wood, papyrus or parchment). The decision to engrave a text is a cultural choice and not common to every society. The ancient Greeks and especially the Romans engraved texts in large quantities (up to a million survive); others, such as the Phoenicians, produced much less. The most common inscriptions are funerary epitaphs (70%) but many other types of documents were engraved, both public (for example laws, treaties, honorary inscriptions) and private (for example curses).
II cent. A.D.
IV-V cent.
Probably IV cent.
IV-V cent.
I-II cent.
Probably II cent.
II-III cent.
I-II cent.
345 A.D.
IV-V cent.
Probably IV cent.
IV cent.
II-III cent.
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