Studies in Byzantine Epigraphy

It is well known and widely acknowledged that many aspects of ancient Greek and Roman civilization can be accessed only through inscriptional source material. Administrative and legislative actions, and the acts of beneficence, commemoration, and thanksgiving all depended for their promulgation on publically displayed and highly visible epigraphs. Such traditions continued throughout Late Antiquity, a time during which inscriptions still functioned as official announcements as well as becoming the most effective means of confessing, expressing and spreading the new religion endorsed by the Roman State - Christianity. Even after Late Antiquity (ca. AD 600), inscriptions persisted as regular features of Byzantine written culture until, as well as beyond, the fall of the Empire in 1453. Although there was some decline in the production of stone and mosaic inscriptions, new epigraphic media were employed, such as, for example, monumental fresco inscriptions in churches and epigrams on movable objects.

We envisage that our series would include collective volumes devoted to specific epigraphic themes, such as, authority, display, self-representation, patronage, etc.

In our capacity as editors, we would especially encourage contributions from specialists exploring new avenues of research, and setting agenda for the future of the discipline. Our aim is to create an outstanding academic resource, which would showcase the significance of Byzantine Epigraphy as an academic discipline opening the field to scholars in related disciplines, such as history, art history, and literature, and reaching out to include a wider readership in both Byzantine and, more generally, classical, medieval, and early modern studies.