Epigraphy and the Greek Historian (Phoenix Supplementary Volumes)

the long version

"Epigraphy is the study of inscriptions found on ancient artefacts such as stones, coins, and statues and the attempt to infer historical data from these inscriptions. It is an indispensable tool for archaeologists and classicists, and has considerable potential to enrich the study of ancient history at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Epigraphy and the Greek Historian is a unified collection of essays that explore various ways in which inscriptions can help students reconstruct and understand Greek history." "The volume is divided into two parts: Athens, and the wider Greek world. The contributors demonstrate the value of epigraphy for history, arguing that in many cases inscriptions are the only data we have from which to recover the local history of places that were not the main focus of ancient literary sources, which are often frustratingly Athenocentric. Ideally, the historian uses both inscriptions and literary sources to propose plausible reconstructions and thereby weave together the disconnected threads of the past into a connected and persuasive narrative. Epigraphy and the Greek Historian is a comprehensive examination of epigraphy and a timely resource for students and scholars involved in the study of ancient history."--Jacket.