The Meaning of Ancient Greek and Roman Artisan Signatures
Trust me, the ancients (Minoan/Greek/Roman) did not create art - their slaves did. And that is the saddest part. What remains of them may be their creations, but not their real history. -Trace What did a signature mean in the ancient world, and how much can we trust what they seem to tell us? Sarah E. Bond March 30, 2023 Hephaistion signature on Pergamon mosaic now in Berlin (2nd century BCE) (image by unknown author via Wikimedia Commons ) What’s in a name? And what is the power of that name to communicate artistry and prestige? Since antiquity, names have had the power to generate relationships, tying us to people, to places, and also to the media we make. But what did a signature mean in the ancient world, and how much can we trust what they seem to tell us? The word “signature” comes from the Latin verb signo . A signaturum is something about to ...