The format of this book, comprising a series of introductory chapters followed by a catalogue of the material, will be familiar to anyone who has worked extensively with the fascicules of the Corpus Signorum Imperii Romani (CSIR), only in this case the tombstones are Greek and in a majority of cases they are dated from before the time when Macedonia became a Roman province after the Battle of Pydna in 168 bc. Stylistically and in content this does not seem to have made a great deal of difference in terms of subject and iconography, at least until the Augustan Age when this volume ends. However, it does mean that there is a small amount of overlap with one of the very few Greek fascicules of CSIR to have appeared (Lagogianni-Georgakarakos Reference Lagogianni-Georgakarakos1998), where nos 51 and 52 from ancient Lete (and now in the magnificent collection of the Archaeological Museum in Thessaloniki) are re-catalogued here as nos 141 and 142. Although, undoubtedly, of early Roman date, they are very much in the tradition of earlier Greek–Macedonian examples.

There are great riches to be found in the smaller tomb-monuments of Macedonia, not least the rare painted stelai of late fourth- or early third-century date, on which the subjects are painted rather than carved, all but one – an excellent three-figure scene from Amphipolis (no. 190) – from Aigai (nos 43–57) and recovered from the excavation of the ‘Great Tumulus’ at Vergina. In an inevitably restricted field, they provide a link with the painted built tombs here and elsewhere in Macedonia. They are rightly illustrated in colour, but many are no longer very distinct and, in a couple of cases, additional line drawings have been provided.

The remaining stones are sculpted in relief, beginning in the middle of the fifth century, and may be linked in style and subject with gravestones from the Aegean islands and Athens. Especially fine are the tombstones of the young warrior (no. 61) and the two women – one standing, the other seated (no. 63) – both from Pella, and also a young hoplite wearing a typical Macedonian broad-brimmed hat and chlamys (no. 37), like the painted stelai from the Great Tumulus at Vergina. Many more tombstones are dated to the fourth century. Those from Amphipolis, originally an Athenian colony, continue to betray the origins of the city, the theme often a composition of two people (one of whom is seated, the other standing), such as no. 186, with its touching epitaph of Amyntas, son of Monounios.

Some of the most distinctive Macedonian tombstones of the period of the Monarchy depict horsemen; this partly characterised the deceased as a hero, especially when associated with a serpent (often shown in a tree; for example, nos 31 and 153), but also emphasised a reality; some were doubtless the tombstones of the Companion cavalry (hetairoi) of the kings; for example, no. 124, the stele of Nikanor from Herakleia, or (no. 148) of Mennidas shown with his large round shield, and who is hailed here as a hero.

There is much more that relates in a very personal way to Macedonian society. Some of the most interesting tombstones are from Beroia, including that of the young woman, who served as a priestess of Isis or a local goddess Enodia, called Hadea (no. 84, see pp 64–6). She is depicted wearing a chiton and peplos and a broad hat, accompanied by her maid and about to be guided to the Underworld by Hermes, who stands beside a herm; above is an array of priestly paraphernalia. An equally crowded composition displays Paterinos, son of Antigonos, (no. 88) who is described as holding a high civic office, as tagos, on two occasions, and is shown with the protome of his horse. He is described as a hero, but the date appears to be as late as the end of the second century bc, when Roman rule had already come to stay.

As stated above, this volume should be read in conjunction with Lagogianni-Georgakarakos, who takes the story forward. Some themes certainly continue: the snake in the tree; and the horseman, sometimes to be recognised as the Thracian rider (Macedonia embraced part of Thrace and adopted some non-Greek customs and deities). All in all, this volume is a triumph of scholarship that sets a standard for such corpora; it is packed with information and deserves continued careful study. My only criticism is that it would have been helpful in the catalogue (which will, inevitably, be the most consulted section of the book) to remind ‘the courageous reader’, to whom the book is dedicated, of the probable date of each item.