Andrej Petrovic (Durham) "Even Further Greek Epigrams" - Orality Workshop

The seminar will explore categories of 'writtenness' and 'performance' often used in discussions of the Greek practices of commemoration. Over the past 30 years, 'writtenness' of early Greek epigram has been repeatedly singled out as one of its marked features. However, scholars have recently also started observing perfomative -- even sympotic! -- features of early commemorative verse-inscriptions. In this sense, the seminar will take a pragmatic look at a selection of performative features in Greek commemorative inscriptions (esp. epigrams and casualty lists) and raise questions of their historical contexts and modes of dissemination.
Andrej Petrovic is a Senior Lecturer in the Dept. of Classics and Ancient History, Durham University (UK). His research and publications deal with Greek religion and epigraphy.