Dédier comme une mère. Autour des stratégies maternelles dans l’épigraphie à partir des inscriptions des provinces nord-occidentales

Abstract

By studying epigraphic material in Roman Northern West, it is to be noticed specificities in mother’s speech. This paper attempts to establish the strategy followed by the mothers to commemorate the memory of their children. This work consists in a study of lexicon and formulas of the inscribed material in order to bring to light the criteria which govern the epitaphs written by mothers. Through the prism of epitaphs, the purpose is to distinguish between epigraphic practices of the father and the mother. Besides, these tombstones developed a motherly identity based on the fact that women claimed the status of mother. They preferred to call themselves «mater » rather than «coniux » . Gender is a key factor to understand the role of the mothers in the roman family. Depending on whether the dedicant is the father or the mother, the epitaphs are imbued with a sexed speech which delivers information on male or female dimension of the dedication.