Abstract

Sepulchral Inscriptions, consolation decrees, letters of condolence and literary obituaries give insights in ancient life concepts which are by no means exhausted by modern scholars until today. The epistemology of ancient life is still to be studied with special consideration of the following questions: Which kinds and models of life courses and life designs can be found in these texts? What is a successful life, which are the criteria for assessing the quality of life courses? Which is the attitude of those who are going on living? The article intends to outline a field for further fruitful research.