Epigraphic Conventions

Front 1

(abc)

Back 1

letters omitted by stonecutter but printed by modern epigraphist to fill out abbreviation

Front 2

[abc]

Back 2

letters lost on the stone b/c of damage or weathering, but restored "with certainty"

Front 3

[. . . .]

Back 3

letters lost on the stone b/c of damage or weathering; each dot = one letter

Front 4

[----]

Back 4

letters lost on the stone b/c of damage or weathering; cannot be restored and number of letters uncertain

Front 5

<abc>

Back 5

letters "accidentally" omitted on the stone

Front 6

{abc}

Back 6

"superfluous" letters inscribed on the stone

Front 7

[[abc]]

Back 7

letters deliberately erased; e.g by damnatio memoriae

Front 8

abc (w/dots under)

Back 8

letters underdotted are doubtful b/c of damage or weathering, cannot be restored w/certainty

Front 9

[\\\\\]

Back 9

Letters deleted on stone, but not able to be restored w/confidence; each \ represents single letter

Front 10

ABC

Back 10

Letters on stone but not understood by the epigrapher

Front 11

I (etc.)

Back 11

Division between lines of original text, with roman numeral at the beginning of each, frequently given only at five line intervals

Front 12

v.

vvv

vac.

vacat

Back 12

represents letter-space left blank

3 letter spaces left blank

longer space left blank

even longer space (whole line) left blank