Rest Lightly: An Anthology of Latin and Greek Tomb Inscriptions

Rating:
Summary: For everyone...
Review: In the introduction Paul Shore explains that most books written in Antiquity deal with men. Women and children are ignored (besides a few exceptions). With inscriptions it's a different matter. Thanks to the widespread of litteracy in the Roman empire many 'common' folk wrote inscriptions on walls (the early graffity), on tombstones and on tablets in temples. They tell something about everyday life like in this excerpt of A Charioteers' Grave (P.Shore gives the entire translation):
We the members of his team 'Veneta',
Dedicate this altar to Fuscus,
...
Unblemished fame was yours.
You earned the praise of the race course
As you strove with many, fearing none,
...

There were also more 'philosophical' inscriptions like this one:
What are we
Or what do we say
At last this life is?
Just that a man has
Lived among us
And now is no more.
Just the stone
And the inscription remain,
And no other traces.
Now what
Is life?
It is nothing that
You should trouble yourself
To inquire about.

There are also thirteen black and white photo's of tombstones. Altogether a very interesting book.