One of the most famous Roman antiquity inscriptions comes from Vindolanda, a fort along Hadrian’s Wall in northern Britain. This is Claudia Severa’s so-called “birthday letter,” which she wrote to her friend Sulpicia Lepidina around 100 CE. Severa dictated to a scribe on a small wooden tablet the invitation to her friend for a birthday celebration on September 11th, as well as well wishes in her own handwriting. 

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://martinifisher.com/2022/04/10/heres-to-more-life-love-and-adventures-to-come-the-ancient-history-of-birthday-celebrations/