Life and letters on the Roman frontier : Vindolanda and its people / Alan K. Bowman.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 150-154) and index.

Introduction -- The writing-tablets -- Strategies of occupation -- The Roman army -- Officers and men, and women -- Social and economic life on the frontier -- Letters and literacy -- Appendix I. Technical terminology -- Appendix II. The texts.

Print version record.

Over three hundred letters and documents have recently been discovered at the fort of Vindolanda, written on wooden tablets which have amazingly survived nearly 2000 years. Painstakingly deciphered by Alan Bowman and J. David Thomas, they have contributed a wealth of evidence for daily life in the Roman Empire. From the military documents we learn of the strength and activities of the units stationed at Vindolanda. The accounts testify to the lifestyle of officers and ordinary soldiers, with payments for pepper and oil, towels and tallow, boots and beer. Then there are snapshots of domestic life in letters between the officers' wives, including a birthday invitation (see front cover). Most fascinating of all is the evidence for a high level of literacy in the Roman army, where even someone of humble rank receives a letter from home promising him a parcel of socks.

eng.

eBooks on EBSCOhost EBSCO eBook Subscription Academic Collection - Worldwide