This note presents a short history of the study of in Greek epigraphy and suggests a new methodology for that work. The study of can offer a powerful means of dating fragments and enabling joins and associations of pieces that go together. The considerable time required to study a hand, however, and the problem of access to the inscriptions pose formidable obstacles to progress. In addition, as in any field of stylistic attribution, subjectivity remains an inevitable complicating factor. Computer ization may offer a way forward. Scholars in epigraphy, mathematics, and computer studies have collaborated to develop two methods for mapping the lettering on inscrip tions and then comparing the mapped samples to identify hands. They have successfully distinguished with 100% accuracy six on 23 separate fragments. This is a real breakthrough and the first time that the identification of a Greek writer has been realized via digital means. Com puters offer the potential to automate the process and set the study of on a more objective footing. The shape of the letters in Greek inscriptions varies from example to example?enough so that scholars have long felt they were seeing the work of individu als. Koehler and Kirchner, the editors of the first and second editions of the Attic volumes of Inscriptiones Graecae, for example, were very sensitive to the shape of the letters for dating purposes and even noted in some instances individual hands.1 Colin, in editing the inscriptions of the Pythaids on the Athenian trea sury at Delphi, distinguished the of the cutters and assigned the texts accordingly.2 This was the first large-scale use of the recognition of to assign fragments, and it represented a remarkable achieve ment. Scholars over the years have continued to note on occasion that two or more inscriptions are by the same hand.3 There has also been some interest in the inscribers and how they went about their work.4 But it was Wilhelm who, in 1906, pointed the way toward systematic study of individual cutters when he de scribed a distinctive style and noted seven inscriptions as characteristic.5 later expanded this dossier to 27 examples.6 was really the founder of the study, for he went on to distinguish a number of dur ing his work on the prytany inscriptions;7 he identi fied and labeled clearly the numerous inscribers who worked on IG 22 2336, the great list of officials who contributed money for the Pythais.8 He also helped Wade-Gery identify one hand of the late fifth century B.C.E.9 Lastly, it was who, in 1966, encouraged Tracy to undertake the study of a single ancient letter cutter. An article describing the methodology em ployed in the study was followed by a monograph that broke new ground.10 Since then, Tracy has shown that the study of indi vidual on Greek inscriptions is both possible and fruitful. It is a great help in dating fragments that are otherwise very difficult or impossible to date with any accuracy and in bringing about joins and associations of fragments inscribed by the same workman.11 This kind of study, however, remains relatively rare in epig raphy, in part because most scholars have other goals in mind. In addition, there exist formidable obstacles to the study of hands: the time required to study an inscriber's hand and bring together other examples of his work; the months needed to learn the characteris tics of the hand and years to collect other examples of 1 See the commentary on IG 22 369, 373, 724, 836, 844 for examples. 2 See Colin's (1909,15 n. 1) description of the hands. 3 See examples in 1975. 4 Robert 1955; Mulliez 1998. 5 Wilhelm 1906,63-4. 6Dow 1936, 58-60. and Wilhelm both refrained from affirming that the style was the work of one man. By the mid 1960s, when Tracy was working with him extensively, had come to the conclusion that it was the work of a single individual. 7 1937. 8 1940. See Tracy (1982) for a full study with an im proved text. 9 Wade-Gery 1932-1933, 122-34; Dow indeed taught me to distinguish hands (Wade-Gery 1932-1933,101). 10Tracyl970,1975. 11 See esp. Tracy's (1990,1995, 2003) three books devoted to describing and collecting the work of individual Athenian letter-cutters.