Le città greche e i loro segretari: note sulla documentazione di età arcaica

Based on the assumption that «a grammateus presupposes records», this paper analyses the evidence – literary, epigraphical and iconographic – for public secretaries and the use of writing in the Greek poleis of the archaic period. After an examination of some sixth- and early fifth-century inscriptions from Crete, Teos, Elis, Athens and Argos, some issues concerning the status and privileges of grammateis, their specialist role and position vis-à-vis public officials, the nature of their tasks and the types of documents they were expected to draft are discussed.