Greek metrical inscriptions, classical paideia and identity in Late Antiquity

The paper deals with metrical inscriptions as indicators of continuity and transformation of Greek paideia in Late Antiquity, focusing on the possible relevance of poetic language as a signpost of identity. Through close reading of selected verse inscriptions from peripheral centres, I argue that literary allusions/quotations and style played a significant role in the intended message of Late Antique metrical epigrams, not only in literary terms, but also (and especially) in terms of enactment of identities, from the cultural, to religious and political ones. I also suggest that we should give up on the standard interpretive vertical model (i.e. the influence of literary poetry and traditional paideia on the authors of epigrams) and instead we should adopt rather a horizontal model, taking into account the expectations of commissioners and their intended audience.