A bit like the way the English historian Mary Beard,who specialises sp Roman history will go to the graffiti to paint a picture of how the majority may have lived.
Some early graffiti from Pompeii:
(Bar of Salvius; over a picture of a woman carrying a pitcher of wine and a drinking goblet); 3494: Whoever wants to serve themselves can go on an drink from the sea.
(Wood-Working Shop of Potitus): 3498: What a lot of tricks you use to deceive, innkeeper. You sell water but drink unmixed wine
(House of Pascius Hermes; left of the door); 7716: To the one defecating here. Beware of the curse. If you look down on this curse, may you have an angry Jupiter for an enemy.
(barracks of the Julian-Claudian gladiators; column in the peristyle); 4289: Celadus the Thracian gladiator is the delight of all the girls.
(vicolo del Panattiere, House of the Vibii, Merchants); 3117: Atimetus got me pregnant.
(in the basilica); 1820: Chie, I hope your hemorrhoids rub together so much that they hurt worse than when they every have before!
(in the basilica); 1864: Samius to Cornelius: go hang yourself!
(in the basilica); 1808: Auge loves Allotenus
It seems that written graffiti has not changed all that much as it relates to the human condition.
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