Overview
prosopography
Quick Reference
Is the study of individuals, and is derived from Gk. prosōpon, one meaning of which is ‘person’. Prosopography, as practised in ancient history, is a method which uses onomastic evidence (see names, personal, greek and roman) to establish
Traditional prosopography can be criticized for undue attention to the doings of élites and exceptional individuals; but the paucity of evidence for low‐status groups and individuals is not a problem peculiar to prosopography but one which faces most attempts to investigate the ancient world. Roman republican history in its human and political complexity cannot be understood without proper attention to prosopographical detail. As for imperial Rome, prosopography, allied with epigraphy, has transformed understanding of the Roman governing class under the Principate. Prosopography has made less impact on Greek history, but it has shown e.g. that in Classical Athens there is little overlap between politics at deme level and at city level.
