Lawrence Keppie

I first met Roman inscriptions in a survey of Latin literature in college (the Praenestine fibula, the epitaphs of the Scipios, etc.), but never have had a formal course in Latin epigraphy. Keppie is an excellent introduction whether you know Latin or not, although it helps if you do. He covers the basics: stonecutting, dating and reading inscriptions, fundamental reference works. Then a series of chapters covers the contents of inscriptions. The book is well illustrated. You can learn a lot show more about the everyday life of the Romans, as well as history writ large, from Keppie. There are also entertaining asides: on Rosemary Sutcliffe's Eagel of the Ninth in discussing inscriptions from the ninth legion, on I, Claudius, and the Sator Arepo magic square to mention a few. show less