Puntuazione e dintorni

Among the inscriptions dating from the 7th to the 6th century BC, only three show punctuation marks: the Praenestine fibula, the Forum inscription and the Lavinium plate. Here we will analyse in more detail the case of the Forum inscription which, due to its structure on four faces plus the edge, lends itself to a more systematic analysis of the punctuation pattern. This very point has always been very controversial in the history of studies also due to the particularities of the li- onate tuff, characterised by numerous accidental holes often interpreted as punctuation marks. Recently, thanks to decisive digital analyses, it has been possible to identify a coherent and non-random system, as it should be for a ‘public’ text of Rome of such importance. The analysis has also shown the possibility of iso- lating some epigraphic particularities and has opened a new perspective on the forms present there, both from the practical point of view of engraving with different tools and of the executive part, as emerges from the pairs of letters presented comparatively.