Inscriptions are a source of information about ancient Greek and Roman culture. Yet the constantly increasing mass of available material, and the specialized conventions of epigraphic editing and publication, can make the study of these crucial documents intimidating for the non-specialist. This readable and fully-illustrated study thoroughly demystifies epigraphic evidence. It offers a wide-ranging exploration of the significance of inscribed texts in understanding the ancient world, and points out the hazards and limits of their use as historical sources. Individual chapters address: * the significance of inscribed writing in the ancient world * the linguistic and inscriptional diversity that resulted when the epigraphic cultures of Greece and Rome encountered native traditions * the contribution of epigraphy to our knowledge of personal names and individual identities (onomastics and prosopography), the family and society, and civic and religious life * the relevance of inscribed implements for daily use (instrumentum domesticum) for ancient economic history. A useful appendix guides the reader around the arrangement of the major epigraphic corpora and serial publications. Maryline G. Parca, University of Illinois; James Rives, York University, Canada; Richard Saller, University of Chicago, USA; G. Pucci, University of Siena, Italy; Olli S