Voices of Roman Britain

MULLEN, ALEX

Abstract

Roman Britain is often seen as a backwater. It offers us few standing remains to rival the likes of the Colosseum or the Pont standing remains to rival the likes of the Colosseum or the Pont du Gard; few of its protagonists get big billing in Roman his-du Gard; few of its protagonists get big billing in Roman his-tory. But Roman Britain does offer a lot for anyone interested tory. But Roman Britain does offer a lot for anyone interested in the lives of local people in a province of the Roman Empire in the lives of local people in a province of the Roman Empire — not least because of its treasure trove of everyday written — not least because of its treasure trove of everyday written remains. Other parts of the Roman world have been swamped remains. Other parts of the Roman world have been swamped with finds of often publicly-displayed stone inscriptions: Rome with finds of often publicly-displayed stone inscriptions: Rome provides us with some 100,000 published stone inscriptions provides us with some 100,000 published stone inscriptions compared to a measly 4,000 from the whole of the province compared to a measly 4,000 from the whole of the province of Britannia. But the fact that the ‘epigraphic habit’ — i.e. of Britannia. But the fact that the ‘epigraphic habit’ — i.e. putting up public inscriptions to advertise one’s status — never putting up public inscriptions to advertise one’s status — never took off in Britain and was largely the preserve of soldiers and took off in Britain and was largely the preserve of soldiers and foreigners should not deter us. It just means that we have to foreigners should not deter us. It just means that we have to be more attentive to the range of epigraphic remains (‘writing be more attentive to the range of epigraphic remains (‘writing on things’), from eye doctors’ stamps to graffiti on pottery. on things’), from eye doctors’ stamps to graffiti on pottery. Here Alex Mullen studies this ‘everyday writing’ to tap the Here Alex Mullen studies this ‘everyday writing’ to tap the local voices of Britain. local voices of Britain.

Citation

MULLEN, A. (2022). Voices of Roman Britain. Omnibus (London), 83, 30-32

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 20, 2021
• Publication Date: Mar 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Sep 14, 2023
• Journal: Omnibus (London)
• Print ISSN: 0261-507X
• Publisher: The Classical Association
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 83
• Pages: 30-32
• Series ISSN: 0261-507X
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/25350797
• Publisher URL: https://classicalassociation.org/publications/omnibus/