CCED Staff
Project Director:
Colin S. Clarke, MISt
University of Toronto
Archives:
Natalia Pietrzykowski, MI
University of Toronto
Xiaowei Yin, MI
University of Toronto
Digitization and Digital Restoration:
Stephen Tong, MI
University of Toronto
Web Master:
Barrett Fullerton
Hamilton, Ontario
Academic Contributors:
Nima Jamali, PhD Student
Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations
University of Toronto
Evon Sworesho, MA
Institute on Globalization and the Human Condition
McMaster University
Project Consultants
Robert Glushko
Professor and Associate Dean, Research
Scholarly Communications and Copyright Librarian
University of Toronto
Amir Harrak
Professor of Aramaic and Syriac
Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations
University of Toronto
Lynne Howarth
Professor and Associate Dean, Research
Faculty of Information Studies
University of Toronto
István Perczel
Professor of Byzantine and Eastern Christian Studies
Department of Medieval Studies
Central European University
The CCED would like to express sincere thanks to the following:
The Department of Classics
University of Toronto
The Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations
University of Toronto
The Faculty of Information
University of Toronto
The Royal Ontario Museum
Toronto
The Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library
University of Toronto
And to the numerous volunteers who have contributed to the project.
About Epigraphy
Epigraphy is the study of writings inscribed on durable materials such as stone, terracotta, wood, or metal. Epigraphy is the study of inscriptions.
Inscriptions are primary documents. As such, they provide direct and immediate reference to the culture being studied. Inscriptions yield information on many aspects of society, including religion, literature, art, architecture, politics, social culture, and language.
The very words used in inscriptions sometimes offer meanings and nuances previously unrecognized when given in other contexts. These extended meanings can bring a deeper understanding to literary texts and other documents where the words are used.
Unlike manuscripts, inscriptions provide us with original texts that have not been subject to later editing or revision. They can supply exact details that writers of the time often leave out: the cost of building projects down to the smallest sums, or military expeditions to the man.
Virtually every aspect of ancient life, both public and private, can be found expressed in inscriptions. Through the study of inscriptions our concept of the ancient world evolves and becomes more complete.
