Mia Gaia Trentin
The Cyprus Institute, STARC, Adjunct
- Medieval Epigraphy, Graffiti in history, History of Writing Systems, Cyprus Studies, Medieval graffiti, Byzantine and Medieval Cyprus (History and Art), and 12 moreMedieval pilgrimage, Medieval Cyprus, Medievale Graffiti, Graffiti, Epigrafia Medievale, Pilgrim badges, Mason's marks, Medieval Visual Culture, Visual Culture, Transmission of Cultural Tradition Via Memes, Digital Photogrammetry applied to Archaeology, and Reflectance Transformation Imagingedit
- Mia Gaia Trentin is an archaeologist and historian working on digital humanities. She is a fellow of the Society of A... moreMia Gaia Trentin is an archaeologist and historian working on digital humanities. She is a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London (FSA). She investigates Medieval and Early Modern written culture in all aspects, from traditional historical study and source editing to epigraphy. Her expertise is in informal written communication – graffiti – with a particular focus on written and visual expression to recover past people’s practices, attitudes, and approaches to their surrounding natural and anthropic space. She works on methodological aspects of historic graffiti with a digitally driven approach, including adapting technologies and tools, data structuring, ontologies and standards.
She is also engaged in EU project consortia, aiming to promote Cypriot graffiti within the academic community, education, and valorisation through community involvement and citizen science.edit
In the last decades, an increasing number of studies on medieval and early modern graffiti has consolidated the importance of this medium in collecting new details about the practices and socio-cultural aspects of writing and... more
In the last decades, an increasing number of studies on medieval and early modern graffiti has consolidated the importance of this medium in collecting new details about the practices and socio-cultural aspects of writing and communication. On the other hand, it has also highlighted methodological gaps deriving from the lack of a uniform and inclusive approach in the relevant fields. This paper identifies these gaps and illustrates how they have been addressed by specific research projects carried out at the Cyprus Institute's Science and Technology in Archaeology and Culture Research Center (STARC). The ongoing work of these projects entails a specific methodological approach for documenting, analysing, and interpreting graffiti in the Eastern Mediterranean between the Middle Ages and the early modern period. Moreover, the approach intends to support and promote the study of historic graffiti as an independent discipline, not depending solely on palaeography, epigraphy, or archaeology, but joining them in the analysis of graffiti material.
Research Interests:
Since prehistoric times, graffiti has been a way for humans to express themselves and interact with the landscape in a visual way. Graffiti is a visual record of the relationship between society, culture, and the environment over time,... more
Since prehistoric times, graffiti has been a way for humans to express themselves and interact with the landscape in a visual way. Graffiti is a visual record of the relationship between society, culture, and the environment over time, representing an additional layer of sociocultural value to the underground built heritage (UBH). Thanks to the application of digital technologies and a specific workflow, this paper will suggest how graffiti can be regarded as an additional and relevant element of creating connections and strengthening the site’s values, bridging the past and present communities. Through the critical discussion of two case studies—the monastery of Ayia Napa (Cyprus) and the Saint Helena chapel in the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem—the authors want to achieve two main goals: first, they want to highlight the sociocultural value and raise awareness
about the presence and significance of historic graffiti. In the second instance, they wish to illustrate how graffiti can be an additional agent for the sustainable development, valorization, and promotion of the UBH.
about the presence and significance of historic graffiti. In the second instance, they wish to illustrate how graffiti can be an additional agent for the sustainable development, valorization, and promotion of the UBH.
Research Interests:
The development of graffiti studies during the last couple of decades highlighted the relevance and potential of graffiti as a complementary source for understanding different aspects of past societies. Moreover, the availability of... more
The development of graffiti studies during the last couple of decades highlighted the relevance and potential of graffiti as a complementary source for understanding different aspects of past societies. Moreover, the availability of digital documentation techniques crucially increased data production, showing the widespread presence of graffiti in Medieval and Early Modern contexts across Europe.
However, the approach to historical graffiti has not been yet structured. Guidelines, specific analytical tools, and descriptors are still missing due to various reasons. First, graffiti are a multiform and multimodal graphic expression, so texts, signs, images must be considered together despite their different communicative nature. Secondly, due to their variety in forms and contents, graffiti have been studied from many perspectives – e.g., epigraphy, palaeography, history, art history, maritime studies- following the specific interests of each scholar. Consequently, the numerous and extensive contributions concerning graffiti highlight the lack of shared standards and approaches, hindering data analysis and interoperability. The panorama emerging is fragmentary and unstructured.
This paper, thus, aims to offer a first step towards the development of a specific methodology for the analysis and study of Medieval and Early Modern European graffiti. Precisely, a specific ontology adopting CIDOC CRM for Medieval and Early Modern graffiti will be presented, as developed in a preliminary form within the DIGIGRAF project with the support of the ARIADNEplus network.
However, the approach to historical graffiti has not been yet structured. Guidelines, specific analytical tools, and descriptors are still missing due to various reasons. First, graffiti are a multiform and multimodal graphic expression, so texts, signs, images must be considered together despite their different communicative nature. Secondly, due to their variety in forms and contents, graffiti have been studied from many perspectives – e.g., epigraphy, palaeography, history, art history, maritime studies- following the specific interests of each scholar. Consequently, the numerous and extensive contributions concerning graffiti highlight the lack of shared standards and approaches, hindering data analysis and interoperability. The panorama emerging is fragmentary and unstructured.
This paper, thus, aims to offer a first step towards the development of a specific methodology for the analysis and study of Medieval and Early Modern European graffiti. Precisely, a specific ontology adopting CIDOC CRM for Medieval and Early Modern graffiti will be presented, as developed in a preliminary form within the DIGIGRAF project with the support of the ARIADNEplus network.
Research Interests:
Scholars of various disciplines have focused their attention on European Medieval and Early Modern graffiti during the last decade, thus confirming and reinforcing the value of this peculiar written evidence. Their contributions... more
Scholars of various disciplines have focused their attention on European Medieval and Early Modern graffiti during the last decade, thus confirming and reinforcing the value of this peculiar written evidence. Their contributions demonstrate that graffiti can offer valuable information to different fields of study (e.g. shipbuilding, palaeography, history, social culture, and visual culture) through a glimpse into past daily life. Due to their nature, graffiti present a completely free graphic expression, which may appear in either textual or pictorial forms, or both. This characteristic makes their study rather challenging due to the two different mechanisms of communication they employ. In the case of textual graffiti, the content is transmitted through linguistic codification, while pictorial graffiti require a decoding process that is more complex and articulated. The first challenge, though, is to find a way to record and compare both evidence on the same graphic and verbal levels. Furthermore, as for any other epigraphic evidence, the graffiti analysis must take into account the writing surfaces and the context, two elements that are fundamental for the final interpretation of this source. This paper will address these methodological issues concerning the preliminary phase of graffiti documentation and classification/cataloguing. The starting point has been the recent debate and application of FAIR data principles in the field of Humanities, which aim to create quality data, easily exchanged in a digital environment, fostering knowledge in the field. Since this approach has not yet been applied to graffiti studies, the paper aims to stimulate a dialogue on innovative and objective methodological approaches within the researchers’ community.
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The paper aims to give an overview of what has emerged so far from the analysis of Cypriot Medieval and Early Modern graffiti. The formal variety of the collected material reflects the multicultural character of the island and the ability... more
The paper aims to give an overview of what has emerged so far from the analysis of Cypriot Medieval and Early Modern graffiti. The formal variety of the collected material reflects the multicultural character of the island and the ability of the writers to use different communication and writing systems to express their messages. Moreover, the preliminary analysis of Cypriot graffiti is highlighting an intangible heritage of intimate and daily practices that are still little explored, such as magic and superstition alongside religion. The study of graffiti, as it emerges from the present contribution, can crucially contribute to recovering the intangible heritage of past practices and aspects of everyday life as they are preserved by the invisible archive of the island’s historical buildings.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Nowadays, considering the various methodological approaches used by the scientific community to study graffiti, there is a need for the improvement of the documentation and analysis workflow that must be addressed. Historic graffiti are... more
Nowadays, considering the various methodological approaches used by the scientific community to study graffiti, there is a need for the improvement of the documentation and analysis workflow that must be addressed. Historic graffiti are recognized by scholars of different disciplines as a relevant and genuine written source, able to provide an insight into the everyday life of the past. Many studies have indeed flourished during the last decades stating the relevance of graffiti as a multidisciplinary source of information and showing, at the same time, the fragmented research scenario due to the lack of reliable and standardized methodologies. Currently, the scientific community involved in the study of graffiti has largely benefited from the use of digital technologies. However, most of the efforts and research projects were focused on the analysis of graffiti immediately visible on the surface or graffiti the position of which was easily identifiable due to the depth and width of the engraving. The proposed study is intended to tackle the documentation pipeline a step earlier than the documentation itself when the graffiti are yet to be identified. The San Marco Basilica in Venice is used as a unique case study for the analysis of non-directly visible-to-human-eye graffiti in a rather challenging environment.
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Research Interests:
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… The glass palaces of the Doges are being pounded in a crystal mortar, strained throught a prism. Venice will never be far from me in Cyprus – for the lion of Saint Mark still rides the humid airs of Famagusta, of Kyrenia. It is an... more
… The glass palaces of the Doges are being pounded in a crystal mortar, strained throught a prism. Venice will never be far from me in Cyprus – for the lion of Saint Mark still rides the humid airs of Famagusta, of Kyrenia.
It is an appropriate point of departure for the traveller to the eastern Levant…..
Lawrence Durrel, Bitter lemons of Cyprus
So it was for us, a fair starting point toward the East.
The POCA 2010 was hosted in Venice, a city closely linked to the island of Cyprus, not only for the historical events but also for the numerous signs, still readable in the two islands.
Countless references to Cyprus in Venice, in palaces, primarily that of Queen Caterina Corner, in the church of Saints Giovanni e Paolo, where the skin of Mark Antonius Bragadin (the staunch defender of Famagusta) is guarded, in the cichetti (small snacks usually accompanied by an aperitive) that preserve Levant reminiscences, in the spices, and especially in the famous wine of Cyprus, memorized in the names of the calli.
Many references also in Cyprus where the evidences of the Venetian past are focused on the fortresses and fortifications of Nicosia, Famagusta and Kerynia, in the lions that adorn them as well as in the traditional dishes and language.
The Venetian edition of the conference celebrated two important events: the five hundredth anniversary of the death of Caterina Cornaro (1454-1510) and the twinning between the city of Venice and the city of Larnaca.
The most important anniversary for the year 2010 was for the conference itself, which achieves its tenth edition; ten events that have been a major point of encounter and engagement for young researchers in the world who are concerned with the history and archeology of Cyprus. Initially, the conference was restricted to the study of archeology, but over the course of the editions, the chronological interval of investigation have widened. With the Venetian edition we wanted to give a strong sign in this direction, with a call for papers addressed to scholars of different disciplines ranging from archeology to art history and from history to anthropology by encouraging the submission of interventions from antiquity until more recent times. This choice has been well received by the participants ofthe conference and by scholars who, for various reasons, have followed the conference.
A key element of the organization of POCA was the presence of academics deal with subjects upon Cyprus, which made available to young scholars their experience and availability listening to the reports, offering helpful questions and suggestions. Traditionally, each conference opens with a keynote that in Venice was held by the professor Mr. Graziadio who presented a speech entitled "The earliest contacts between Cyprus and Italy" in the prestigious seat of Ateneo Veneto. We take this opportunity to thank him once again for his contribution, that pointed out the ancient ties between the two territories, but also for his presence and participation in the conference program.
Between the 29th and 30th of October 2010, 30 speeches were presented, divided into 4 sections: Production, Trade And Identity - Artifacts And Decorations - Landscape And Urban Organization - Cypriot Society. The program was rich with contributions that have ranged from archeology to history and social history from the Bronze Age to the Eighteenth century. The debate that followed was lively and friendly, characterized by exchanges of points of views between scholars of different periods and areas, joined by their passion and interest for the history of the island.
The success of this edition is due primarily to the speakers, whom we thank. Thanks to their constant work and commitment events like this become an important opportunity of growth and meeting.
As we mentioned earlier, an important contribution to the success of the conference was set up by the presence of academic members. Here we would like to thank prof. Demetrios Michaileides of the Department of Archaeology of the University of Cyprus and the prof. Filippo Maria Carinci, then dean of the Faculty of Humanities of the University Ca 'Foscari, who, as a representative of the University, welcomed all the participants and contributed to the creation and organization of this edition. A special thanks also goes to Mr. Lorenzo Calvelli, young professor of Ca’Foscari University, that has followed with interest the entire program by offering suggestions and ideas, and by articulating a final report that highlighted the rich and diverse nature of the researches presented.
The POCA 2010 was made possible thanks to the financial support of the University Ca' Foscari University, Faculty of Humanities, the Cyprus Tourist Organization, the Cypriot Ministry of Education and Culture and the municipality of Larnaca. We here officially thank them all.
This volume is intended to be a summary of those three days in Venice. Various events and decisions have determinate the publication of 12 contributions which represent all eras and areas touched by all interventions.
Each article is the result of the work of scholars in the past four years, revised and updated both in the light of peer review and in the progress of the search.
The book we publish is, therefore, the witness of the Venetian edition but, above all, is an important contribution to the history and the studies, carried out by a new generation of scholars.
It was an honor for us, and a pleasure to host such an event in this city, which, we hope, has been a appropriate point of departure for the traveler to the eastern Levant ... ..
It is an appropriate point of departure for the traveller to the eastern Levant…..
Lawrence Durrel, Bitter lemons of Cyprus
So it was for us, a fair starting point toward the East.
The POCA 2010 was hosted in Venice, a city closely linked to the island of Cyprus, not only for the historical events but also for the numerous signs, still readable in the two islands.
Countless references to Cyprus in Venice, in palaces, primarily that of Queen Caterina Corner, in the church of Saints Giovanni e Paolo, where the skin of Mark Antonius Bragadin (the staunch defender of Famagusta) is guarded, in the cichetti (small snacks usually accompanied by an aperitive) that preserve Levant reminiscences, in the spices, and especially in the famous wine of Cyprus, memorized in the names of the calli.
Many references also in Cyprus where the evidences of the Venetian past are focused on the fortresses and fortifications of Nicosia, Famagusta and Kerynia, in the lions that adorn them as well as in the traditional dishes and language.
The Venetian edition of the conference celebrated two important events: the five hundredth anniversary of the death of Caterina Cornaro (1454-1510) and the twinning between the city of Venice and the city of Larnaca.
The most important anniversary for the year 2010 was for the conference itself, which achieves its tenth edition; ten events that have been a major point of encounter and engagement for young researchers in the world who are concerned with the history and archeology of Cyprus. Initially, the conference was restricted to the study of archeology, but over the course of the editions, the chronological interval of investigation have widened. With the Venetian edition we wanted to give a strong sign in this direction, with a call for papers addressed to scholars of different disciplines ranging from archeology to art history and from history to anthropology by encouraging the submission of interventions from antiquity until more recent times. This choice has been well received by the participants ofthe conference and by scholars who, for various reasons, have followed the conference.
A key element of the organization of POCA was the presence of academics deal with subjects upon Cyprus, which made available to young scholars their experience and availability listening to the reports, offering helpful questions and suggestions. Traditionally, each conference opens with a keynote that in Venice was held by the professor Mr. Graziadio who presented a speech entitled "The earliest contacts between Cyprus and Italy" in the prestigious seat of Ateneo Veneto. We take this opportunity to thank him once again for his contribution, that pointed out the ancient ties between the two territories, but also for his presence and participation in the conference program.
Between the 29th and 30th of October 2010, 30 speeches were presented, divided into 4 sections: Production, Trade And Identity - Artifacts And Decorations - Landscape And Urban Organization - Cypriot Society. The program was rich with contributions that have ranged from archeology to history and social history from the Bronze Age to the Eighteenth century. The debate that followed was lively and friendly, characterized by exchanges of points of views between scholars of different periods and areas, joined by their passion and interest for the history of the island.
The success of this edition is due primarily to the speakers, whom we thank. Thanks to their constant work and commitment events like this become an important opportunity of growth and meeting.
As we mentioned earlier, an important contribution to the success of the conference was set up by the presence of academic members. Here we would like to thank prof. Demetrios Michaileides of the Department of Archaeology of the University of Cyprus and the prof. Filippo Maria Carinci, then dean of the Faculty of Humanities of the University Ca 'Foscari, who, as a representative of the University, welcomed all the participants and contributed to the creation and organization of this edition. A special thanks also goes to Mr. Lorenzo Calvelli, young professor of Ca’Foscari University, that has followed with interest the entire program by offering suggestions and ideas, and by articulating a final report that highlighted the rich and diverse nature of the researches presented.
The POCA 2010 was made possible thanks to the financial support of the University Ca' Foscari University, Faculty of Humanities, the Cyprus Tourist Organization, the Cypriot Ministry of Education and Culture and the municipality of Larnaca. We here officially thank them all.
This volume is intended to be a summary of those three days in Venice. Various events and decisions have determinate the publication of 12 contributions which represent all eras and areas touched by all interventions.
Each article is the result of the work of scholars in the past four years, revised and updated both in the light of peer review and in the progress of the search.
The book we publish is, therefore, the witness of the Venetian edition but, above all, is an important contribution to the history and the studies, carried out by a new generation of scholars.
It was an honor for us, and a pleasure to host such an event in this city, which, we hope, has been a appropriate point of departure for the traveler to the eastern Levant ... ..
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
This article reports on the results of a research project entitled 'KARAVOI. The Ship Graffiti on the Medieval Monuments of Cyprus: Mapping, Documentation and Digitisation', during which 233 ship graffiti were recorded in 44 different... more
This article reports on the results of a research project entitled 'KARAVOI. The Ship Graffiti on the Medieval Monuments of Cyprus: Mapping, Documentation and Digitisation', during which 233 ship graffiti were recorded in 44 different monuments on the island, dating from the 15th to the 20th centuries. Innovative recording techniques have been used to mitigate the effects of the subjective or partial recording of graffiti lines on tracing paper. Apart from the study of ship graffiti as iconographic sources, particular emphasis has been given to their geographical and social context through a comprehensive analysis of the graffiti types and their spatial distribution in the monuments as well as the monuments location on the island.
Research Interests:
The paper presents some considerations about specific typologies of graffiti collected in Northern Italy during the author’s Ph.D. research I graffiti come pratica per la storia delle pratiche religiose medievali. The research provided a... more
The paper presents some considerations about specific typologies of graffiti collected in Northern Italy during the author’s Ph.D. research I graffiti come pratica per la storia delle pratiche religiose medievali. The research provided a new cataloging method for graffiti and analyzed, in details, each typology present in the collected material. Through the analysis of the typology distribution, it is possible to notice the iteration of some forms, a part of them have not yet been deciphered. The paper focuses on this kind of evidence in order to present possible Medieval signs and symbols still unknown or unconsidered due to their undeciphered content.
Through the description of the 3 main graffiti categories (alphabetical, figurative and geometrical), the analysis describes their distribution along the 5 main pilgrimage’s routes of Northern Italy: Via Francigena, via Francigena Renana, via Claudia Augusta, via del Brennero, via Romea.
Within these routes the paper focuses on 4 typologies, analyzing their distribution and iteration. Thanks to that, it is possible to observe that, even if their significance is still obscure, their presence demonstrates that they were used in different areas and context, suggesting that their meaning was known to the audience they were directed.
Through the description of the 3 main graffiti categories (alphabetical, figurative and geometrical), the analysis describes their distribution along the 5 main pilgrimage’s routes of Northern Italy: Via Francigena, via Francigena Renana, via Claudia Augusta, via del Brennero, via Romea.
Within these routes the paper focuses on 4 typologies, analyzing their distribution and iteration. Thanks to that, it is possible to observe that, even if their significance is still obscure, their presence demonstrates that they were used in different areas and context, suggesting that their meaning was known to the audience they were directed.
Research Interests:
The aim of this paper is to detect the main characteristics of the Venetian epigraphic production in Cyprus. During the entire Venetian rule, many commemorative epigraphs —public or private— publicized the actions and the image of the... more
The aim of this paper is to detect the main characteristics of the Venetian epigraphic production in Cyprus.
During the entire Venetian rule, many commemorative epigraphs —public or private— publicized the actions and the image of the Venetian Republic to the local people and also to the merchants and voyagers passing through the island. Thanks to formal and textual analysis, it is possible to retrace the “marketing strategy” used by the Venice Republic to promote a strong, winning image of its reign, using a new kind of script associated with the figure of the lion and following a model already tested in the City of Venice. The palaeographic form of the letters, the texts, the decoration, and the collocation are some of the epigraphic aspects we considered to point out the distinction between French and Venetian inscriptions and the formation of a new political identity through this kind of source.
During the entire Venetian rule, many commemorative epigraphs —public or private— publicized the actions and the image of the Venetian Republic to the local people and also to the merchants and voyagers passing through the island. Thanks to formal and textual analysis, it is possible to retrace the “marketing strategy” used by the Venice Republic to promote a strong, winning image of its reign, using a new kind of script associated with the figure of the lion and following a model already tested in the City of Venice. The palaeographic form of the letters, the texts, the decoration, and the collocation are some of the epigraphic aspects we considered to point out the distinction between French and Venetian inscriptions and the formation of a new political identity through this kind of source.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The aim of the research is to collect and analyze the graffiti in the churches of Northern Italy up to 1300 in order to interpretate the phenomeno to earn more informations about the medieval pilgrimage and the medieval devotion.The main... more
The aim of the research is to collect and analyze the graffiti in the churches of Northern Italy up to 1300 in order to interpretate the phenomeno to earn more informations about the medieval pilgrimage and the medieval devotion.The main part of analysis is based on the classification of graffiti in categories and on the comparative analysis of typologies and material distribution. The results underline the predominance of figurative-geometric typology rather than the alphabetical, as confirmed by the low level of alphabetization which characterize this period, until the end of XIII century.The distributive analisys, in addition, evidences some typologies spreading on the 5 itineraries which can indicate the presence of a large circolation of people, such as in case of pilgrimages. On the other side, punctual concentrations show the presence of local devotion coexisting with pilgrimage, in the same site.From the graphic point of view, is possible to observe a wide expressive variety of graffiti, while, if we consider the spatial distribution, based on the graffiti collocation, it is also possible to understand how the medieval visitors approached the churches and its sacred areas.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
During the last decades, scholars of various disciplines focused their attention on historical graffiti contributing to confirm and reinforce the value of this peculiar written source. It has been proved that graffiti can provide relevant... more
During the last decades, scholars of various disciplines focused their attention on historical graffiti contributing to confirm and reinforce the value of this peculiar written source. It has been proved that graffiti can provide relevant information for different fields of study (e.g., shipbuilding, paleography, history, social culture, visual culture) offering a glimpse into the everyday life of past people. Despite that, the study of graffiti shows a consistent lack concerning the methodology. As far as now the absence of a defined and shared cataloging practice prevents the objective exchange of information and materials between scholars. Most of the times, in fact, graffiti are analyzed following a specific approach based on the expertise and research interests of every scholar. The study of inscriptions, for example, focuses quite exclusively on alphabetical texts, while drawings or graphic elements are considered only if related to that. Of course, the analysis of alphabetical graffiti informs us about relevant aspects of past societies, such as the writing skills, the development and use of specific writing models, people’s attitude towards a monument, pilgrims’ practices and circulation, but offers a specific point of view.
Due to their nature of spontaneous written expression, graffiti present a completely free graphic form, both alphabetical and non-alphabetical. This characteristic makes their study very challenging by comparing two different mechanisms of communication. In the case of alphabetical graffiti, the content is transmitted by a linguistic codification, while for non-alphabetical ones the decoding process is more complex and articulated.
The challenge is, firstly, to find a way to catalog and compare both evidence on the same graphic and communicative level. Furthermore, as for any other epigraphic evidence, the graffiti analysis must take into account the writing surfaces and the context, two elements that are fundamental for the final interpretation of this source.
The paper will address these methodological issues concerning the preliminary phase of graffiti documentation and cataloging. Moving from the field experience, the author will relate the graffiti analysis with the traditional archaeological and historical cataloging practices, suggesting, in the end, possible solutions. The paper aims primarily to stimulate a dialogue based on the audience’s practical experience about cataloging issues and, more in general, methodological approaches.
Due to their nature of spontaneous written expression, graffiti present a completely free graphic form, both alphabetical and non-alphabetical. This characteristic makes their study very challenging by comparing two different mechanisms of communication. In the case of alphabetical graffiti, the content is transmitted by a linguistic codification, while for non-alphabetical ones the decoding process is more complex and articulated.
The challenge is, firstly, to find a way to catalog and compare both evidence on the same graphic and communicative level. Furthermore, as for any other epigraphic evidence, the graffiti analysis must take into account the writing surfaces and the context, two elements that are fundamental for the final interpretation of this source.
The paper will address these methodological issues concerning the preliminary phase of graffiti documentation and cataloging. Moving from the field experience, the author will relate the graffiti analysis with the traditional archaeological and historical cataloging practices, suggesting, in the end, possible solutions. The paper aims primarily to stimulate a dialogue based on the audience’s practical experience about cataloging issues and, more in general, methodological approaches.
Research Interests:
Graffiti is a remarkable gift, privileging the modern historian of ancient societies with access to a perspective that is often outside the traditional worldview of other extant literary, documentary and material sources (Keegan P.... more
Graffiti is a remarkable gift, privileging the modern historian of ancient societies with access to a perspective that is often outside the traditional worldview of other extant literary, documentary and material sources (Keegan P. Graffiti in Antiquity, Routledge, 2014, xi-xii).
This alternative new source of information is able to provide authentic and genuine evidence that preserves visual and verbal insights into the daily life, religion, and cultural identity of past societies, as this paper will show.
Due to its non standard and varied form, the study of graffiti is very challenging, mainly for what concerns its formal and chronological definition.
This paper will present a new approach, already tested by the author in different context and areas, based on the formal definition of graffiti. Formal analysis, in fact, is a fundamental step as starting point, in order to catalog and better understand the wide variety of graphic expressions used by Medieval and Modern men to express themselves.
Through a presentation and definition of the three formal categories (alphabetical, figurative and geometrical) the paper will focus on chronological issues. If, in fact, graffiti chronology is firstly provided by the support (frescoes, building materials, etc.) as terminus post quem, often this is the only available datum. Only a large scale analysis and comparison can add relevant elements to establish the chronological gap of use and diffusion, possibly, for each category.
To better illustrate this process of analysis and comparison, the author considers some peculiar kind of geometrical graffiti, quite popular in Cyprus, focusing on the site of Timios Stavros in Pelendri. Here restoration works, held in the second half of ’90 by the Department of Antiquities, brought to light some geometrical graffiti in a sealed context. The apse of the church, in fact, was first painted in 1178 and around the second half of 14th century a second layer was realized to cover the previous one. After removing the later layer, the first one is now visible and shows the presence of graffiti made between the end of 12th and the end of 14th century. A two centuries chronological gap for that particular category of graffiti is a relevant information since they don’t offer any other formal element to define their chronology. For this reason the church of Timios Stavros offers an important contribution for the chronology this geometrical sub-cathegory, not only in the specific site, but also as a comparative datum for other context, in Cyprus and abroad.
This alternative new source of information is able to provide authentic and genuine evidence that preserves visual and verbal insights into the daily life, religion, and cultural identity of past societies, as this paper will show.
Due to its non standard and varied form, the study of graffiti is very challenging, mainly for what concerns its formal and chronological definition.
This paper will present a new approach, already tested by the author in different context and areas, based on the formal definition of graffiti. Formal analysis, in fact, is a fundamental step as starting point, in order to catalog and better understand the wide variety of graphic expressions used by Medieval and Modern men to express themselves.
Through a presentation and definition of the three formal categories (alphabetical, figurative and geometrical) the paper will focus on chronological issues. If, in fact, graffiti chronology is firstly provided by the support (frescoes, building materials, etc.) as terminus post quem, often this is the only available datum. Only a large scale analysis and comparison can add relevant elements to establish the chronological gap of use and diffusion, possibly, for each category.
To better illustrate this process of analysis and comparison, the author considers some peculiar kind of geometrical graffiti, quite popular in Cyprus, focusing on the site of Timios Stavros in Pelendri. Here restoration works, held in the second half of ’90 by the Department of Antiquities, brought to light some geometrical graffiti in a sealed context. The apse of the church, in fact, was first painted in 1178 and around the second half of 14th century a second layer was realized to cover the previous one. After removing the later layer, the first one is now visible and shows the presence of graffiti made between the end of 12th and the end of 14th century. A two centuries chronological gap for that particular category of graffiti is a relevant information since they don’t offer any other formal element to define their chronology. For this reason the church of Timios Stavros offers an important contribution for the chronology this geometrical sub-cathegory, not only in the specific site, but also as a comparative datum for other context, in Cyprus and abroad.
Research Interests:
The relevance of mason’s marks in the study of Medieval and pre modern architecture is well stated in Europe. Thanks to the long lasting activity in the field of the Belgian Centre International de Recherches Glyptographiques (CIRG),... more
The relevance of mason’s marks in the study of Medieval and pre modern architecture is well stated in Europe. Thanks to the long lasting activity in the field of the Belgian Centre International de Recherches Glyptographiques (CIRG), today we can decipher and understand the meaning and the function of this important marks. Manson’s marks gather together different typologyes of lapidary signs connected not only to the stonemasons’ identity but also with the different steps of the buildings’ construction. All these marks are an important source, when present, in order to better understand different aspects of regional architectures, such as the workers’ identity and their activities and the building methods. Furthermore, with a regional/areal data collection it is also possible to better relate and compare different buildings thanks to the masons’ marks as relevant, additional element.
As far as now this aspect is understudied in Cyprus. Even if some scholars, such as Camille Enlart noted the presence of masons’ marks, specific studies and a detailed collection is still unavailable.
This paper will present a first contribution in Cypriot mason’s mark study, in order to set a starting point for future researches.
The essay will present the available literature about the Cypriot mason’s marks, creating a first map with their distribution to be implemented with future surveys. Furthermore, following the catalouguing system stated by Prof. Jean-Luis Van Belle, the collected lapidary signs will be preliminary catalogued. Finally, to present possible applications and developments of mason’s marks study, will be presented the rich collection of lapidary signs of the Agia Napa monastery with some preliminary considerations about them.
As already demonstrated in Europe, mainly for France, Germany and Flanders, mason’s marks study can definitely support and enrich the traditional architectural studies on Medieval and Early Modern buildings, adding new information and knowledge to aspects such as the process of construction - from the cave to the different stonemasons involved - their building methods and the economic relevance of the final work.
The presentation will be a useful opportunity to start considering mason’s marks and its potentiality in Cyprus, providing a new source to scholars of different fields of interest, raising awareness of precious architectural information waiting to be studied.
As far as now this aspect is understudied in Cyprus. Even if some scholars, such as Camille Enlart noted the presence of masons’ marks, specific studies and a detailed collection is still unavailable.
This paper will present a first contribution in Cypriot mason’s mark study, in order to set a starting point for future researches.
The essay will present the available literature about the Cypriot mason’s marks, creating a first map with their distribution to be implemented with future surveys. Furthermore, following the catalouguing system stated by Prof. Jean-Luis Van Belle, the collected lapidary signs will be preliminary catalogued. Finally, to present possible applications and developments of mason’s marks study, will be presented the rich collection of lapidary signs of the Agia Napa monastery with some preliminary considerations about them.
As already demonstrated in Europe, mainly for France, Germany and Flanders, mason’s marks study can definitely support and enrich the traditional architectural studies on Medieval and Early Modern buildings, adding new information and knowledge to aspects such as the process of construction - from the cave to the different stonemasons involved - their building methods and the economic relevance of the final work.
The presentation will be a useful opportunity to start considering mason’s marks and its potentiality in Cyprus, providing a new source to scholars of different fields of interest, raising awareness of precious architectural information waiting to be studied.
Research Interests:
Cyprus history has always been linked to its peculiar geographical position: the last Western island strongly immerse in the East. For centuries eastern and western travellers have met in Cyprus, exchanging goods, culture, experiences,... more
Cyprus history has always been linked to its peculiar geographical position: the last Western island strongly immerse in the East. For centuries eastern and western travellers have met in Cyprus, exchanging goods, culture, experiences, visiting and interacting with local people and places. Signs of these interactions are the graffiti produced by travellers and pilgrims. These are simple traces or even a religious expression on churches still visible and diffuse in different sites of the island. Through the documentation and analysis of these evidences is possible to earn new information regarding travellers and local religious sites. The present contribution aims to document Western graffiti and to analyse their characteristics and distribution in coastal sites, such as Agia Solomoni-Paphos, Panagia tis Stasousa and in the inland, like Panagia tou Araka-Lagoudera, Panagia tou Asinou-Nikitari. Through alphabetical or non alphabetical inscriptions will be provided new, interdisciplinary information regarding the writers’ provenance, their graphic ability, their message and way of communication, their circulation within time and space. These new data will integrate knowledge on the presence and circulation in the island during the Medieval and Modern period thanks to the actors’ incised voices.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
After the spreading of literacy, Modern Europe society starts again, as was in ancient Rome, to express its thoughts, ideas, opinions and feelings on urban space, filling the city walls with graffiti. Within urban buildings a privilege... more
After the spreading of literacy, Modern Europe society starts again, as was in ancient Rome, to express its thoughts, ideas, opinions and feelings on urban space, filling the city walls with graffiti. Within urban buildings a privilege place is held by religious ones: churches. These buildings are clearly connoted by a strong symbolic, religious, and political significance, much more than any other urban wall. Considering graffiti in this particular context permits to trace writers’ attitude that goes through conscious vandalism, political and social critique, ludic activities and religious expressions. All these aspects and contents are interlaced in a peculiar twine that, once closely observed, are able to let us glimpse daily aspects of past societies from the actors’ personal voice.
Research Interests:
Thanks to its geographical position, Cyprus has been on the sea routes connecting East and West since the antiquity. The written sources provide significant information on the travellers’ presence on the island, during the Medieval and... more
Thanks to its geographical position, Cyprus has been on the sea routes connecting East and West since the antiquity. The written sources provide significant information on the travellers’ presence on the island, during the Medieval and pre-Modern periods; in pilgrims’ and voyagers’ accounts we find details about their travels Cyprus and their relationship with the locals. Graffiti can complement these sources significantly and often fill gaps present in the texts.
Within the program KARAVOI, it was possible to survey and document a large number of monuments, collecting not only nautical graffiti, but also other drawings and inscriptions. This paper will consider all the non-nautical graffiti collected from the surveyed sites, focusing on Greek and Latin inscriptions. Considering them on a local and regional scale, it will be possible define their distribution and integrate the information provided by the texts. The combination of these two sources – accounts and graffiti – will provide a starting point to trace inland routes, in use during the Medieval and pre-Modern periods. Furthermore, the study of the graffiti can provide interesting insights into the differences between the Latin and Greek approach to the churches, something that will add to our understanding of these buildings’ function throughout their history.
Within the program KARAVOI, it was possible to survey and document a large number of monuments, collecting not only nautical graffiti, but also other drawings and inscriptions. This paper will consider all the non-nautical graffiti collected from the surveyed sites, focusing on Greek and Latin inscriptions. Considering them on a local and regional scale, it will be possible define their distribution and integrate the information provided by the texts. The combination of these two sources – accounts and graffiti – will provide a starting point to trace inland routes, in use during the Medieval and pre-Modern periods. Furthermore, the study of the graffiti can provide interesting insights into the differences between the Latin and Greek approach to the churches, something that will add to our understanding of these buildings’ function throughout their history.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
On a natural crossroad between East and West, the island of Cyprus has always been characterised by vivid socio-cultural exchanges between local and external traditions. Past people's messages, feelings and practices are recorded on... more
On a natural crossroad between East and West, the island of Cyprus has always been characterised by vivid socio-cultural exchanges between local and external traditions. Past people's messages, feelings and practices are recorded on textual and pictorial graffiti across the island. The Cypriot graffiti heritage records many aspects of the past, offering an original insight into the island's everyday life.
Since 2017, the Cyprus Institute—STARC has focused on developing a specific methodology supported by up-to-date digital tools to recover, preserve, and promote the study and knowledge of this fragile heritage. After introducing the Cypriot graffiti heritage, the methodology developed in Cyprus will be presented, emphasising the digital solutions for their documentation and management. The contribution aims to offer a starting point for creating a shared methodology and a specific discipline.
Since 2017, the Cyprus Institute—STARC has focused on developing a specific methodology supported by up-to-date digital tools to recover, preserve, and promote the study and knowledge of this fragile heritage. After introducing the Cypriot graffiti heritage, the methodology developed in Cyprus will be presented, emphasising the digital solutions for their documentation and management. The contribution aims to offer a starting point for creating a shared methodology and a specific discipline.
Research Interests:
The Eastern Mediterranean has always been a crossroad of culture, a lively area where East and West come together in a multiethnic and multicultural environment. As an informal written expression, Medieval and Early Modern graffiti... more
The Eastern Mediterranean has always been a crossroad of culture, a lively area where East and West come together in a multiethnic and multicultural environment.
As an informal written expression, Medieval and Early Modern graffiti record many aspects of the area's socio-cultural life, providing material evidence of past people interaction with their surrounding space. Graffiti show us how locals and foreigners lived and perceived these landscapes, sharing places and recording their messages through textual or pictorial forms.
Graffiti analysis for this area presents many challenges due to a multiplicity of factors, including numerous languages and writings, the richness of pictorial expressions, and the area's socio-cultural complexity.
The talk will illustrate these aspects by describing graffiti general trends in the Medieval and Early Modern Eastern Mediterranean, typologies, distribution, and possible interpretations based on the available edited material. The overview will show graffiti's potential as a complementary source for enhancing our knowledge of different aspects of past societies living in this area. On the other hand, it will highlight the challenges emerging from graffiti documentation, analysis and study. An array of digital technologies and tools, already tested or under development, will be mentioned as efficient solutions to overcome these issues. A second part will consider the Cypriot case-study, showing what has been discovered as far as now from the ongoing extensive graffiti survey on the island's Medieval and Early Modern buildings.
As an informal written expression, Medieval and Early Modern graffiti record many aspects of the area's socio-cultural life, providing material evidence of past people interaction with their surrounding space. Graffiti show us how locals and foreigners lived and perceived these landscapes, sharing places and recording their messages through textual or pictorial forms.
Graffiti analysis for this area presents many challenges due to a multiplicity of factors, including numerous languages and writings, the richness of pictorial expressions, and the area's socio-cultural complexity.
The talk will illustrate these aspects by describing graffiti general trends in the Medieval and Early Modern Eastern Mediterranean, typologies, distribution, and possible interpretations based on the available edited material. The overview will show graffiti's potential as a complementary source for enhancing our knowledge of different aspects of past societies living in this area. On the other hand, it will highlight the challenges emerging from graffiti documentation, analysis and study. An array of digital technologies and tools, already tested or under development, will be mentioned as efficient solutions to overcome these issues. A second part will consider the Cypriot case-study, showing what has been discovered as far as now from the ongoing extensive graffiti survey on the island's Medieval and Early Modern buildings.
Research Interests:
Graffiti presents a unique challenge for archaeology and the humanities. Its existence traces from contemporary cities (street art) back to prehistoric settlements (rock art). No matter the era, graffiti draws from a rich variety of... more
Graffiti presents a unique challenge for archaeology and the humanities. Its existence traces from contemporary cities (street art) back to prehistoric settlements (rock art). No matter the era, graffiti draws from a rich variety of forms, techniques and contents. Works are unified by a common element: the human need to express their unique and original presence in time and space. Historic graffiti thus captures past people’s messages, feelings and ideas, in a completely free and non-stereotyped way.
Thanks to this insight, contemporary archeologists see graffiti as a window into Medieval society, revealing the lives and everyday experiences of common people. Graffiti becomes a means to access genuine ideas, habits, and personalities, offering a deeper understanding of an era while giving larger sections of society a presence in history.
Graffiti is a form self-representation. Its content expresses a person’s living knowledge: their visual culture, ideas, concepts, and feelings. In addition, the position of graffiti reflects an attitude toward a given space or site. So far, scholars have scarcely managed to contend with all these variables together. Traditional archaeological methodologies have shown their inability to manage and represent such a dynamic and interconnected set of information.
Thanks to Mia Trentin, joint Postdoc within The Cyprus Institute-STARC and NCSA, a specific
project in Digital Humanities has been implemented for the study of Medieval Graffiti, aiming to solve the major research issues in this field of study. During her two months visit, Mia Trentin consulted with NCSA expertise in data management systems. Thanks to Luigi Marini at Clowder, and Donna Cox’s Advanced Visualization Lab (AVL), who helped her conceptualize innovative ways for visualizing her research material. Further support has been provided by Prof. Dede Ruggles of the Department of Landscape Architecture. Thanks to her expertise in Mediterranean Medieval architecture and her collaboration with The Cyprus Institute in the Getty Founded project about Mediterranean Cities. A key person in this dialogue is Colter Wehmeier, a graduate student in architecture who specializes in virtual and augmented reality for digital cultural heritage. His experience in the visualization of Cultural Heritage based on archaeology, architectonic and historic queries has informed the structure of a digital system able to manage, analyze and visualize graffiti data along with supplemental pieces of documentation. In the first part of the talk, Mia Trentin will present the research challenges in the study of graffiti. In the second part, Colter Wehmeier will describe a proposal for facing research needs through available technologies.
Thanks to this insight, contemporary archeologists see graffiti as a window into Medieval society, revealing the lives and everyday experiences of common people. Graffiti becomes a means to access genuine ideas, habits, and personalities, offering a deeper understanding of an era while giving larger sections of society a presence in history.
Graffiti is a form self-representation. Its content expresses a person’s living knowledge: their visual culture, ideas, concepts, and feelings. In addition, the position of graffiti reflects an attitude toward a given space or site. So far, scholars have scarcely managed to contend with all these variables together. Traditional archaeological methodologies have shown their inability to manage and represent such a dynamic and interconnected set of information.
Thanks to Mia Trentin, joint Postdoc within The Cyprus Institute-STARC and NCSA, a specific
project in Digital Humanities has been implemented for the study of Medieval Graffiti, aiming to solve the major research issues in this field of study. During her two months visit, Mia Trentin consulted with NCSA expertise in data management systems. Thanks to Luigi Marini at Clowder, and Donna Cox’s Advanced Visualization Lab (AVL), who helped her conceptualize innovative ways for visualizing her research material. Further support has been provided by Prof. Dede Ruggles of the Department of Landscape Architecture. Thanks to her expertise in Mediterranean Medieval architecture and her collaboration with The Cyprus Institute in the Getty Founded project about Mediterranean Cities. A key person in this dialogue is Colter Wehmeier, a graduate student in architecture who specializes in virtual and augmented reality for digital cultural heritage. His experience in the visualization of Cultural Heritage based on archaeology, architectonic and historic queries has informed the structure of a digital system able to manage, analyze and visualize graffiti data along with supplemental pieces of documentation. In the first part of the talk, Mia Trentin will present the research challenges in the study of graffiti. In the second part, Colter Wehmeier will describe a proposal for facing research needs through available technologies.
Research Interests:
The Via Francigena is the most popular Italian road, covered by travelers and pilgrims since the early Middle Ages. The historical and archaeological sources provided information able to reconstruct this colorful and fervent scenery... more
The Via Francigena is the most popular Italian road, covered by travelers and pilgrims since the early Middle Ages.
The historical and archaeological sources provided information able to reconstruct this colorful and fervent scenery that featured the ''area di strada" of the road in the central Middle Ages.
Alongside, and in support of this, there are the voices of the protagonists, of whom in this area have walked, lived, traded and prayed, leaving their own imprint on the walls of churches and hospitals, expressing their messages, marking their passages.
Graffiti along the Francigena are, for northern Italy, the most numerous and diverse set of autograph written testimonies of those who have created and maintained this active way of communication between 10th and 14th century, and beyond.
The presentation of graffiti will highlight the different types detected, their placement and distribution, the chronological datum-where possible, their meaning and their socio-cultural value within the transmission of models and the exchange of ideas and experiences in the central Middle Ages.
The historical and archaeological sources provided information able to reconstruct this colorful and fervent scenery that featured the ''area di strada" of the road in the central Middle Ages.
Alongside, and in support of this, there are the voices of the protagonists, of whom in this area have walked, lived, traded and prayed, leaving their own imprint on the walls of churches and hospitals, expressing their messages, marking their passages.
Graffiti along the Francigena are, for northern Italy, the most numerous and diverse set of autograph written testimonies of those who have created and maintained this active way of communication between 10th and 14th century, and beyond.
The presentation of graffiti will highlight the different types detected, their placement and distribution, the chronological datum-where possible, their meaning and their socio-cultural value within the transmission of models and the exchange of ideas and experiences in the central Middle Ages.
Research Interests:
La Summer school ‘Cipro: un’isola nel tempo’ per l’edizione 2019 presenta una formula rinnovata e itinerante. Gli studenti alloggeranno a Larnaca e da qui ogni giorno partiranno alla volta di siti e parchi storico-archeologici, musei e... more
La Summer school ‘Cipro: un’isola nel tempo’ per
l’edizione 2019 presenta una formula rinnovata e
itinerante. Gli studenti alloggeranno a Larnaca e da qui
ogni giorno partiranno alla volta di siti e parchi storico-archeologici,
musei e luoghi di interesse paesaggistico.
Durante le escursioni verranno illustrati dallo staff
docente argomenti connessi con la storia e la
letteratura dell’isola, temi di cultura e lingua greca
antica, medievale e moderna, iconografia, archeologia
e storia dell’arte dalla preistoria al medioevo
bizantino, spiritualità ortodossa, antropologia e
folklore greco.
l’edizione 2019 presenta una formula rinnovata e
itinerante. Gli studenti alloggeranno a Larnaca e da qui
ogni giorno partiranno alla volta di siti e parchi storico-archeologici,
musei e luoghi di interesse paesaggistico.
Durante le escursioni verranno illustrati dallo staff
docente argomenti connessi con la storia e la
letteratura dell’isola, temi di cultura e lingua greca
antica, medievale e moderna, iconografia, archeologia
e storia dell’arte dalla preistoria al medioevo
bizantino, spiritualità ortodossa, antropologia e
folklore greco.