Classical Studies :
Epigraphy, Paleography And Papyrology :
a guide to Library Resources

Contents:

Handbooks & Introductory Texts | Finding books |
Finding journal articles etc. |Sources | Web resources |

HANDBOOKS & INTRODUCTORY TEXTS

EPIGRAPHY

Epigraphic evidence : ancient history from inscriptions (2001) [print]
[Introductory study for the non-specialist]

Illustrated introduction to Latin epigraphy (1983) [print]  
[A course-book for beginners to epigraphy]

Introduction to Greek and Latin epigraphy: an absolute beginners' guide [web access]
[A guide to the scholarly work in the field of epigraphy]

Roman inscriptions [electronic]
[A series of surveys published in the Journal of Roman Studies aimed at assessing recent progress in epigraphy. To locate them, select the Search this Journal option and input roman inscriptions. Use the drop-down menu to change the selection from full-text to article title. Then click the Search button]

Study of Greek inscriptions (2nd edition, 1992) [print]
[Overview of Greek epigraphy]

Understanding Roman inscriptions (1991) [print]
[Introductory text to Roman inscriptions aimed at the non-specialist]

PALEOGRAPHY

Introduction to Greek and Latin palaeography (1912) [print]
[Standard handbook - especially for Greek palaeography]

Latin palaeography : antiquity and the Middle Ages (1990) [print]
[Handbook which covers all aspects of the subject]

PAPYROLOGY

Greek and Latin papyrology (1986) [print]
[Overview of most aspects of papyrology]

Greek Papyri : an introduction (1968) [print]
[Standard introductory work for students and the non-specialist. A supplementary work entitled Greek manuscripts of the ancient world [print] provides an illustrative companion]

New papyrological primer (2nd edition, 1994) [print]
[Standard introduction to Greek papyrological texts. The texts are drawn from Hellenistic, Roman & Byzantine Egypt]

Reading papyri, writing ancient history (1995) [print]
[An overview on understanding papyri as  historical documents]

Researchers  may also want to consult the following abbreviations guides:

Abbreviations in Greek inscriptions : papyri, manuscripts & early printed books : a manual (1974) [print]
[Reprints several classic works on Greek abbreviations, namely M.Avi-Yonah, Abbreviations in Greek inscriptions; F. Kenyon, Abbreviations and symbols in Greek papyri; T. Allen, Abbreviations in Greek manuscripts; G. Von Ostermann, Abbreviations in early Greek printed books]

Abbreviations in Latin (1998) [print]
[List of Latin epigraphical, numismatic and papyrological abbreviations]

Lexicon abbreviaturarum (5th edition, 1954) [print]
[Standard dictionary of Latin abbreviations found in manuscripts. Supplemented by Abreviations latines medievales [print]]

FINDING BOOKS USING THE LIBRARY CATALOGUE

Books can be found by searching the library catalogue. The following are terms which can be browsed using the Subject Heading option:  

Inscriptions, Greek

Inscriptions, Latin
Inscriptions, Linear A

Inscriptions, Linear B

Paleography, Greek

Paleography, Latin

Manuscripts (Papyri)

Manuscripts Greek

Manuscripts Latin

FINDING JOURNAL ARTICLES USING DATABASES & BIBLIOGRAPHIES

For most topics the databases listed in the Databases for Classics guide should be sufficient, but those researchers needing to undertake a more comprehensive literature search should consult:

L'Annee philologique [print]
[The premier index for Classics - if it's unfamiliar, read this description before attempting to use it. See especially Section III.B Paleographie; Section IV.B : Epigraphie; Section IV.D : Papyrologie in each annual printed volume]

The following specialised bibliographies are also available:

Bibliography on papyri [web access]
[Presented as part of the Duke Papyrus Archive site]

Epigraphic bibliography [web access]
[This database is a sub-set of  Epigraphische Datenbank Heidelberg (EDH) and contains the bibliographical records which were first listed in the print publication L'annee epigraphique]

SOURCES

This section includes both finding aids and collections of published images in print &/or electronic format

EPIGRAPHY

L'annee epigraphique. (1962-1998) [print]
[Annual review of publications on Roman epigraphy]

Corpus inscriptionum latinarum (CIL) [print]  
[The authoritative documentation of the epigraphic heritage of Roman antiquity. The auctarium volumes consist of finding aids such as topical indexes and dictionaries. The database Archivum Corporis Electronicum allows access to the collection of squeezes, photographs and bibliographical references maintained by the CIL research centre, sorted by inscription-number]

Claros: Concordance of Greek inscriptions [web access]
[CLAROS is a computerised concordance of the editions of ancient Greek inscriptions aimed at making it easier to locate new editions of epigraphic texts published in the last 100 years]

Electronic Archive of Greek and Latin Epigraphy (EAGLE) [web access]
[Gateway for accessing and searching the Epigraphische Datenbank Heidelberg (EDH), the Epigraphic Database Roma (EDR) and the Epigraphic Database Bari (EDB)

Imaging projections [web access]
[The Centre for the Study of Ancient Documents (CSAD) produces this image database of Greek inscriptions]

Inscriptiones graecae [print]
[Corpus of Greek inscriptions of Europe. Click here for a web-based finding aid]

Searchable Greek inscriptions [web access]
[Online version of the Packard Humanities Institute Greek Inscriptions database containing Greek inscriptions organised by period and corpora]

Zeitschrift fur Papyrologie und epigraphik (ZPE) [print]
[A major source for scholarly works on epigraphy and papyrology. The library  holds volumes 1(1967) -104 (1994). The web site for ZPE has a table of contents for index to all volumes as well as some articles in full text]

PALEOGRAPHY

Codices Latini antiquiores [print]
[Palaeographical guide to Latin manuscripts prior to the ninth century]

Poinikastas [web access]
[Provides a major database and scholarly tool for the study of early Greek writing]

PAPYROLOGY

APIS: Advanced papyrological information system [web access]
[APIS is a collections-based repository hosting information about and images of papyrological materials]

Catalogue of Paraliterary Papyri (CPP) [web access]
[Contains descriptions and texts from Greek papyri & other written materials. Complements the Thesaurus Linguae Graecae (TLG) and APIS which are listed elesewhere in this guide]

Checklist of editions of Greek, Latin, Demotic and Coptic Papyri, Ostraca and Tablets [web access]
[A bibliography of all monographic volumes of Greek, Latin, Demotic and Coptic documentary texts on papyrus, parchment, ostraca or wood tablets. Note that texts published as journal articles are mainly excluded, and that the site confines itself to documentary papyri - no literary material is cited]

Heidelberger Gesamtverseichnis der Griechischen Papyrusurkunden Agyptens (HGV) [web access]
[A searchable index of Greek documentary papyri from Egypt which aims to provide a complete register of all documentary papyri (in Greek) from Egypt]

Oxyrhynchus papyri [print]
[Records of the Greek papyri collection found at Oxyrhynchus in Egypt have been continuously published in print since 1898. The web-site POxy introduces the Oxyrhynchus Papyri Project & provides some digital images of papyri & a table of contents of the print volumes]

Thesaurus Linguae Graecae (TLG) [non-networked database - only available in the Barr Smith Library]
[TLG is a computerised database of ancient Greek literature containing virtually all extant Greek literary texts. Note that documentary texts - most inscriptions and papyri - are not included in this database]

Zeitschrift fur Papyrologie und epigraphik (ZPE) [print]
[A major source for scholarly works on epigraphy and papyrology. The library  holds volumes 1(1967) -104 (1994). The web site for ZPE has a table of contents for index to all volumes as well as some articles in full text]

WEB RESOURCES

Some starting points for exploring resources on the Web 

American Society of Greek and Latin Epigraphy 
[A non-profit organization whose purpose is to encourage research and teaching of Greek and Latin epigraphy in North America]

Centre for the Study of Ancient Documents 
[Home for Oxford University's epigraphical archive, which includes one of the largest collections of squeezes (paper impressions) of Greek inscriptions in the world, together with the Haverfield archive of Roman inscriptions]

International Association of Papyrologists 
[Home page of the IAP]

Leuven homepage of papyrus collections world wide 
[A database of information on world-wide collections of papyrus and ostraca from the ancient Mediterranean world. It also includes contact details of scholars and institutions involved in papyrological research]

Papyrology homepage 
[Site maintained by John Muccigrosso at Drew University]

This page is maintained by Jennifer Osborn
Last update: 14 December 2007