Surfaces the Greeks wrote on

Question 1

What surfaces did the Greeks write on.

Answer 1

Stone, Pottery (intact and ostraca), Papyrus, Wooden tablets (wax or painted), Leather/parchment, Metal, Mosaics, Large wooden boards.

Question 2

Inscriptions on stone

Answer 2

…were often monumental (‘stele’ = large freestanding stone inscription).
…usually had their letters painted red.
…were (in some cities) the main way of publishing information of long-term importance.
…were extremely common in certain places (e.g. Agora at Athens) but rare in others (e.g. Sparta).
…V. important as the are the main surviving type of text.

Question 3

Common topics of stone inscriptions

Answer 3

Laws, Treaties, State finances, Honours, Funerary epitaphs (i.e. gravestones), Dedication to gods, Graffiti

Question 4

Writing on pottery

Answer 4

Could be painted on or inscribed by the potter before the pot was fired, as part of the design.
Could be added later to an intact pot, by scratching the baked clay with a hard point.
Could be done on bits of broken pots (ostraca), either by scratching or writing with pen and ink.