Andreas Rhoby. Postbyzantinische Epigramme in inschriftlicher Überlieferung (PBEiÜ). Incipitarium und Checklist. Austrian Academy of Sciences Press, 2020 (Version 01.09.2020). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1553/Postbyzantinische_Epigramme [Open Access]

From Austrian Academy of Sciences Press

Metrical inscriptions (“epigrams”) have a long tradition in Greek culture that goes back to Antiquity. In the Byzantine period (4th-15th centuries AD), numerous epigrams were written that were applied to various surfaces (mosaics, frescoes, stones) and objects (metal, wood, textiles, etc.). These are primarily dedicatory and tomb epigrams and other verses with a religious content. As in many other areas, the tradition did not cease to exist at the end of the Byzantine Empire. The present incipitarium, which also serves as a checklist, impressively documents how numerous epigrams were written in the so-called post-Byzantine period after the year 1500. Many inscribed epigrams in churches and on objects such as icons even date to the 19th century. Following an introduction, the present publication offers a list of the beginnings of inscriptional post-Byzantine epigrams (PBEiÜ). It is a growing collection (a quarterly update is planned), which also serves to classify further evidence of already known epigrams and represents a contribution on the thematic focus “Byzantium and Beyond”.