Inscriptions

Abstract

International audience ; This chapter offers a survey of the epigraphic evidence from the Thracian space (in his geographical meaning), as documented by Greek and Latin inscriptions. A reconsideration of texts written in Thracian language is also proposed. Pre-Roman Thrace, that is Classical and Hellenistic Thrace, received here a privileged treatment: the main reason, beside the fact that other periods are better known, is that the literacy or the epigraphic practices were largely underestimated in previous surveys, while recent discoveries are radically changing the common perception. Using some examples of important inscriptions or of more recent finds, and giving the most convenient bibliographical references, the chapter focuses on the supports and the types of inscriptions, their contextual insertion, the statuses of their authors, the choice of language (Greek or Latin), their various political, social and cultural implications, taking also into account the historiographical trends.