Description
UNPUBLISHED INSCRIPTIONS OF GADES AT THE MUSEUM OF CADIZ
Book Summary
This work offers a detailed study of a collection of unpublished inscriptions from ancient Gades (modern-day Cádiz) preserved in the Museum of Cádiz. Through rigorous epigraphic analysis, the authors update current knowledge regarding these written testimonies, many of which had not been published or had only been published incompletely. The reader will find research that not only catalogs and describes each piece, but also places them in historical context, revealing new data on the social, religious, and administrative life of the Roman city. It is an essential tool for understanding the richness of the epigraphic heritage of Cádiz and the importance of revising museum collections with updated criteria.
What is it about?
The book focuses on the revision and publication of a batch of Latin inscriptions originating from Gades that, for various reasons, had remained unpublished or poorly documented within the holdings of the Museum of Cádiz. Helena Gimeno Pascual and De Balbin-Bueno carried out fieldwork and archival research to locate, photograph, transcribe, and translate each epigraph. They then analyze their content from the perspective of paleography (the study of writing) and archaeology, offering a historical interpretation that covers everything from onomastic aspects (people's names) to religious or funerary formulas. The work demonstrates how museum research is never closed, but rather requires constant updating to correct errors, fill gaps, and highlight pieces that had gone unnoticed. Each inscription is presented with its physical support, discovery context, and dating, making the volume a first-rate annotated catalog.
Main Themes
- Latin epigraphy of Roman Baetica, with special attention to the city of Gades.
- Paleography: study of writing styles in inscriptions and their evolution.
- Cataloging and critical review of unpublished or poorly documented museum collections.
- Social and religious history of Roman Cádiz through epigraphic testimonies.
- Research methodology in museums: updating knowledge and valuing heritage.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at researchers and students of archaeology, ancient history, epigraphy, and paleography, as well as museum and heritage conservation professionals. It is also of interest to enthusiasts with an advanced level of knowledge on the subject who wish to delve into the study of Roman inscriptions in the Iberian Peninsula and the work of revising museum collections.
What this book contributes
- Access to a corpus of unpublished or little-known inscriptions, with reliable transcriptions and translations.
- Updating of knowledge regarding the epigraphy of Gades, integrating new findings and correcting previous errors.
- An exemplary methodology for museum research, applicable to other heritage contexts.
- Historical contextualization of each piece, enriching the understanding of life in Roman Cádiz.
- Reference material for future epigraphic and archaeological studies on Baetica.
Technical Data
- Author: GIMENO PASCUAL, HELENA; DE BALBIN-BUENO,
- Publisher: University of Huelva
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: PALEOGRAPHY (HISTORY OF WRITING), ARCHAEOLOGY
- Collection: ONOBA MONOGRAPHIES
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: December 2021
- Number of pages: 258
- Weight: 952 g
Editorial Assessment
This is a top-tier academic contribution within the field of Hispanic epigraphy. The work stands out for its documentary rigor and the relevance of the materials it brings to light, many of which were unknown to the scientific community. For the specialized reader, it represents an indispensable source of primary data, while for the museum professional, it offers a model for how to approach the revision of collections. Ultimately, it is a publication that fills a significant void in the study of Cádiz's epigraphic heritage and lays solid foundations for future research.