Abigail Graham

Archaeology-minded epigrapher & historian. Research Fellow @the_BSR & @instclasstudies. FSA. Loves inscriptions, gelato, prosecco, & bad puns. She/her.

[Abigail Graham @abby_fecit]

Are you not entertained? A rare epitaph @MuseiVaticani of Scirtus, a 4 horse charioteer of the Whites, records career stats: victories (VIC), 2nd&3rd placings +disputed matches 'revocatus'(R) with consular dates 13-25CE. #Tinyjoys #Gladiator20 @SaveRome
https://t.co/HgM9hDiQaq

[Abigail Graham @abby_fecit]

@DebHarkness Wonderful! Perhaps some Freyja as well? You have created so many captivating characters! Can’t wait learn more!

[Abigail Graham @abby_fecit]

@antmoose I confess Anthony, I came to the same conclusion myself a few months ago. See you on the other side!

[Abigail Graham @abby_fecit]

@rumorahasit So happy for you (and for Nefertiti) Bravo!

[Abigail Graham @abby_fecit]

@GeorgyKantor Yes! It's in his "Discoveries" 1877: 44-45 (it was found early, in late March/early April 1864). I'm working on a book about Wood's excavations with the BM, so hopefully, more vignettes to follow! The paper trail is enormous!

[Abigail Graham @abby_fecit]

@ArmandDAngour @sarahchurchwell Fabulous! Just watch out for your pearls…

[Abigail Graham @abby_fecit]

@DocCrom This is a great example of the practical difficulties of erasure! When a carver goes slightly "off-piste" into the lower line: he was probably trying so hard not to chip the framework or the Imperial name above.

[Abigail Graham @abby_fecit]

@roamintheempire @DocCrom @AncientRomeLive One of the fascinating things I've observed about Geta's erasures is not only that they tend to be complete removals, resulting in a longer jagged gash, but they often remove the connective "et" as if it had never existed. Leave no stone unscorned...

[Abigail Graham @abby_fecit]

@gdemaneuf Thank you, yes, it should read "XXXX": not enough X's on X is a serious crime! Alas I can't edit it, but I've uploaded a new image with the correction (below)

[Abigail Graham @abby_fecit]

#EpigraphyTuesday We came across this poignant & vivid epitaph for a #Roman maid, Fausta Seia during our @instclasstudies workshop last week. Severus, her husband made it to commemorate her & their marriage: 12 years without any discord.
Do you believe it?🧵 #Archaeology
📸Me

[Abigail Graham @abby_fecit]

Our hands-on workshop explored dynamic ways of making physical copies of inscriptions. Squeezes may damage the paint, so we made a rubbing. A bit of coffee sack, tissue & carbon paper can make a lightweight & portable image that captures the physicality of an inscription. 3/3

[Abigail Graham @abby_fecit]

The text (below) from Rome (CIL 6. 17777) was part of a private collection & is now used for teaching at UCL. It is beautifully carved, and although the red paint is modern, it captures the striking appearance of a painted inscription. 2/3

[Abigail Graham @abby_fecit]

@antmoose @ArtfulArchivist @museiincomune @p_historians @rogueclassicist @chapps @caputmundiHeidi @Livia_en_Roma @NCDrusus38 @HawkeJon This is probably not Christian. The line below ending in "SIG" is part of an abbreviation for "Consul designatus": a Roman office. Lettering can be a thorny hedge for dating but Anthony is correct: the style, deep interpuncts & tall "I" forms, are common in Augustan monuments.

[Abigail Graham @abby_fecit]

@antmoose @museiincomune @p_historians @rogueclassicist @chapps @caputmundiHeidi @Livia_en_Roma @NCDrusus38 @HawkeJon I was asking the curator Caterina Papi about this one: the material inside the letters was a subsequent addition, it looks like they were trying to smooth out the lettering with plaster. Amazing!

[Abigail Graham @abby_fecit]

@chapps There is some debate about whether it is a vittae or an infula, but Hemelrijk's article makes a compelling case for an infula. I love the colour it might add as well!

[Abigail Graham @abby_fecit]

#EpigraphyTuesday Meet the parents! This fabulous #Roman power couple in Nîmes, cut in high relief in an ornate dome, sport the hairstyles, costumes & imagery of a high-ranking officer in the 6th legion & an imperial priestess, set up by their children.🧵
📸me
🏛️Romanitas museum

[Abigail Graham @abby_fecit]

@p_historians @DocCrom @antmoose @chapps @roamintheempire That is a really fascinating question, it makes one wonder about the context of the relief... which alas, seems to have been lost. Would this have actually happened or is it an aspirational claim of control? Thanks for sharing, I've never seen this one! 😍

[Abigail Graham @abby_fecit]

@chapps @roamintheempire I think it is certainly worth a try!!

[Abigail Graham @abby_fecit]

@WittsPat @DocCrom @AncientRomeLive @roamintheempire @chapps @antmoose Yes! I love the dolphins: I have wondered if the face, which looks a bit masculine, could be Nemausus, the local deity?

[Abigail Graham @abby_fecit]

@HawkeJon @alistair_tosh @antmoose @chapps @WittsPat @romanarchaeouk Is that inscription displayed on fake grass? If so, that is some very admirable attention to recreating context!