Administrative Forms and Language Choices in the Epigraphs and Coins of Roman Sicily

Abstract

Until recently scholars used to claim that the language use in the Roman colonies of Sicily was coherent: Latin was the only language in use in any “official” context, and Greek was only chosen when the context was somehow different, such as a (non-colonial) cult or a private setting. Recent research has challenged the assumption. In the article, we focus on the use of Greek and Latin in noncolonial cities. The use of Latin has often been connected with the attribution of a precise administrative status, that of municipia, in Augustan age or Post-Augustan age; on the contrary, evidence on municipio written in Greek have been considered to date back to the years of Sextus Pompeius. We show that there was much more variation in language use in the “official” municipal contexts than previously thought. We also propose new readings and datings for several inscriptions, notably IG XIV, 954 (with a reference to Akragas / Agrigentum), IG XIV, 367=IG Palermo 44 (Aluntium), CIL X 7350 (Thermae Himeraeorum), IG XIV 575 (Centuripae), AE 1945, 64 (Segesta) and SEG LXI, 758=AE 2011, 435 (Syracusae).