Ancient religious dedications written in prae-Roman languages constitute a relatively very well known epigraphic genre. They have been analysed by specialists in every epigraphical culture (Oscan, Etruscan, Iberian, Celtiberian, Punic, Venetic, etc.), who have deepen into the gods, the formulae and the dedicants written on this kind of inscriptions. Nonetheless, religious dedications have different features in every region and also pose certain problems in each one that cannot be assessed through an inner research; but from a comparative approach, searching solutions outside the cultural area.
This is what ARD-West offers: a comparative research on prae-Roman religious dedications of the Western Mediterranean cultures that permits us to broaden the horizons when studying an epigraphic genre.
This issue has been adressed basically in two ways:
a) through a database of religious dedications in Italic languages (Oscan, Umbrian), Gaulish and Palaeohispanic languages (Celtiberian, Lusitanian, Iberian), that is the foundation for a monography, where all the elements of the inscription (material and textual) are described.
b) through networking with specialists in every epigraphic culture of the West.
- in a conference (may 2017, Rome).
- thanks to the COST network AELAW (
http://aelaw.unizar.es(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie)).
This previous study, the sharing of knowledge with other colleagues and the final monography will show not only up-to-date contents of an interesting corpus of inscriptions; but also will promote a new team spirit among European researchers.
