Re-Appraising the Value of Same-Text Relationships; a Study of ‘Duplicate’ Inscriptions in the Monumental Landscape at Aphrodisias

A new perspective on 'duplicate' inscriptions reveals that identical or similar texts should be studied independently, not merely as copies. By analyzing differences between such inscriptions at the Sebasteion in Aphrodisias, researchers uncovered nuanced insights into monumental messaging and its perception by ancient audiences. The study highlights a deliberate planning process where architectural context—spaces, decorations, and textual arrangement—shaped how distinctions and hierarchies were visually communicated to Roman viewers. Contrasting these findings with near-identical dedications at the Hadrianic baths further elucidates the phenomenon of duplicate dedications, offering deeper understanding of epigraphic presentation in classical antiquity.

Graham, A. (2018). Re-Appraising the Value of Same-Text Relationships; a Study of ‘Duplicate’ Inscriptions in the Monumental Landscape at Aphrodisias. The Materiality of Text – Placement, Perception, and Presence of Inscribed Texts in Classical Antiquity, 275–302. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004379435_012