Chi parla a chi. Continuare a vivere nella voce dei passanti: esempi dalla Regio I

This paper investigates the communicative and memorial functions of Latin funerary inscriptions, focusing on examples from Regio I. Addressed to passersby -viatores, hospites, praetereuntes- these epitaphs created a symbolic dialogue between the living and the dead, inviting readers to stop, read aloud, and thus revive the memory of the deceased. Through formulas, acrostics, affectionate dedications, and even curses, funerary monuments became instruments of self-representation, revealing social values, familial ties, and religious beliefs. Writing served both a civic and sacred purpose, preserving the individual's dignitas while constructing a shared collective memory. The analysis highlights how these texts contributed to shaping communal identity and expressing accepted social norms within Roman society. Despite scholarly attention to such "speaking inscriptions," a comprehensive and systematic collection capable of elucidating their legal and social significance is still lacking.