Chiseling Connections. Architecture and Epigraphy between Corinth and Syracuse

Abstract

Official epigraphy on stone differs significantly from more spontaneous forms, such as writing on pottery sherds or vessels. Stone epigraphy demands specialized knowledge of stonemasonry, access to appropriate tools, and dedicated workspaces. This points to organised workshops with masters and apprentices, and raises the question of whether stone inscribers shared their expertise with other stoneworkers, or if they were, in some periods (particularly in the Archaic period), not solely letter-carvers, but also skilled in various forms of stonework, including architectural masonry and sculpture. Our contribution examines stone-working practices in architecture and epigraphy between Corinth and Syracuse, adopting a truly interdisciplinary approach and the anthropological concept of 'community of practice'