New Article: The Greek Graffiti of Herculaneum

Rebecca R. Benefiel andHolly M. Sypniewsk, The Greek Graffiti of Herculaneum. American Journal of Archaeology Vol. 122, No. 2 (April 2018), pp. 209–244

This article offers an overview of ancient Greek handwritten wall inscriptions, or graffiti, in the city of Herculaneum and the first contextual analysis of these inscriptions. First, we address how much Greek is found, where it appears, and what was being written in Greek. We then offer a discussion of Greek alphabets and personal names inscribed in Greek, which together account for half of the graffiti in Greek at Herculaneum. Finally, we examine Greek graffiti in context and discuss two locations in Herculaneum where the graffiti have survived and are still visible in situ. By presenting where Greek graffiti appear, what they contain, and how they communicate and interact with other texts, we aim to provide a more comprehensive picture of the distribution and context of Greek in Herculaneum and to offer new insights into the culture of writing in Campania.

SpaceLaw project is hiring post-docs and doctoral students!

Kaius Tuori, who has directed the Public and Private in the Roman House project during the last few years, has a new project investigating the uses of public and private space in the Roman administration.

The new SpaceLaw project (Law, Governance and Space: Questioning the Foundations of the Republican Tradition, spacelaw.fi), funded by the ERC, is hiring

1. two post-docs for three years, and

2. two doctoral students for four years

to investigate the spaces of Roman Republicanism at the University of Helsinki! Ancient historians, archaeologists, legal historians, Roman lawyers and the like are strongly encouraged to apply.
Here are the ads (with a more detailed description of the project):

https://www.helsinki.fi/en/open-positions/postdoctoral-researchers-spaces-of-roman-republicanism

https://www.helsinki.fi/en/open-positions/doctoral-students-spaces-of-roman-republicanism


The deadline is 15.4.

N.B. Feel free to spread the word!

New paper: Armando Cristilli, 'A proposito di una statua nello Hüftmanteltypus al Museo Storico Archeologico dell’Antica Nola' in Rivista di Studi Pompeiani, 28, 2017, pp. 105-111

https://www.academia.edu/35957004/A_proposito_di_una_statua_nello_H%C3%BCftmanteltypus_al_Museo_Storico_Archeologico_dellAntica_Nola

https://www.academia.edu/35957004/A_proposito_di_una_statua_nello_H%C3%BCftmanteltypus_al_Museo_Storico_Archeologico_dellAntica_Nola

Book presentation: Strolling with power: the recent discoveries of the Garden of the Villa Arianna at Stabiae.

Crowdfunding Campaign for the Ancient Graffiti Project

The Friends of Herculaneum Society is sponsoring a crowdfunding campaign in support of the wonderful Ancient Graffiti Project (www.ancientgraffiti.org). We're aiming to raise £13000 by 19 March to enable undergraduates from both sides of the ocean to go the Herculaneum this summer and participate in the collecting and publishing of the graffiti. One of the great things about this project is that the students are equal participants with academic staff in doing the research. They learn great skills and get super experience for the future. The Friends are matching the first £5000 of donations pound for pound so your donation is doubled. Please go to https://hubbub.org/p/ancientgraffiti and find out more. Consider making a donation - crowdfunding depends on lots of people pitching in - and also do please spread the word on your own network. American donors can contribute to the American Friends of Herculaneum website (www.herculaneumfriends.org) rather than donating through Hubbub, and get the tax deduction in the US. Grazie mille!
Bob Fowler for the Friends of Herculaneum

Book presentation: "Ercolano 1927-1961", 1 Dec 2017, Herculaneum Archaeological Park