Hellenistic epigraphic poetry represents a source that has so far been insufficiently explored for a deeper understanding of the literature, culture, and society of the Hellenistic world. Unlike literary texts in manuscripts, these poems are closely linked to specific material contexts—tombs, votive offerings, or public buildings—and at the same time firmly rooted in local historical, religious, and cultural traditions. They offer perspectives on literary practices that are often documented only indirectly in literary sources.

The direct relationship of these texts to real-life situations and to individuals who would otherwise be scarcely tangible allows for a unique insight into the social realities of the Hellenistic world. Inscriptions open up not only literary insights but also glimpses into everyday culture, religious practices, social hierarchies, and local identity formations.

Furthermore, the study of inscriptions allows us to broaden our perspective beyond the classical literary centers such as Alexandria. Analysis of regional texts reveals the diversity of literary practices, aesthetic experiments, and local forms of expression that characterize the Hellenistic era. They can be considered testimonies to local identity and interfaces between elite and everyday culture, between literary aspiration and practical function.

Although individual texts of epigraphic poetry have already been studied intensively the majority of the material remains largely unexplored. Systematic analyses are often lacking or are outdated, so that both the literary quality and the social, historical, and cultural dimensions of these texts have so far been inadequately explored. The Freiburg Hellenistic Workshop will thus not only serve to take stock of the  current state of research but also open up new research questions and perspectives that could have a lasting impact on the field.