Epitaphs and citizenship in Classical Athens

Abstract

‘Death is bad for those who die, but good for the undertakers and the grave-diggers’. (Dissoi Logoii 3)And for archaeologists and for epigraphers as well, even though epitaphs, and especially simple or formulaic ones, are probably the most understudied and unloved area of ancient epigraphy. Yet the mere fact of an inscribed epitaph indicates deliberate and intentionally enduring commemoration, and therefore embodies a social attitude; epitaphs thus constitute a matter of historical importance that can be studied for the very reason that so many—in Athens over 10,000—survive. Most Athenian epitaphs which have been found have been dated, and for approximately two-thirds of them a general find-spot has been recorded (very few are actually foundin situwith a body or grave-goods). Temporal and spatial variations within the distribution of Athenian epitaphs (Part I) prompt not only the question of why aspects of this habit should change over time, but why the habit of epitaphs should exist at all; the answer suggested here links the function and distribution of Athenian epitaphs to changing concepts of (and importance attached to) Athenian citizenship. For epitaphs function as more than testimonials to grief: they represent what survivors saw as defining the deceased (Part II), and the significantly greater number of epitaphs in fourth-century Athens derives from Athenians' emphatic definition of themselves as citizens at that time (Part III). Finally, the Athenians's use of tombstones has no parallel in the classical Greek world (Part IV), for the Athenians' developing perceptions of their own city and of their own special relationship, as citizens, to it, were also unparalleled.

A New Interpretation of the Noble Lie

“…Westra, 2006, 279, asserts that Euripides does not "escape" the pull of Athenian "hegemony," which excluded foreigners and asserted "Athenian superiority." For more on the peculiarities of the Athenian situation in Plato's day, see Kapparis, 2005, 111;Meyer, 1993, 119-120. Kovacs, 2002, 657-675, 931-941.…”

Regional Field Surveys and Population Cycles

“…Classical Attica, a well documented area in the historical sources, with many of its cemeteries excavated and its territory well explored in an extensive way (Figure 16.4) and with a rich collection of inscriptions available (Figure 16.2) offers a good area to see how information from different sources complements each other. I present as an example how surveys help assess the graph in Figure 16.1, that presents the number of citizens of the Attic deme Meyer, 1993: 100 fig. 1).…”

Families and states: citizenship and demography in the Greco-Roman world

“…31 Athenian grave inscriptions have not received thorough study so far. We can only rely on a cursory study by Elizabeth Meyer (1993). 32 Note that grave-rites for citizens in classical Athens could not be performed by non-citizens.…”