Palaeography is the study of ancient writing, including the physical act of creating it and deciphering manuscripts. It helps scholars understand ancient cultures and history, and can also help distinguish between ancient and forged documents. The word comes from the Greek for “old” and “to write”.
Palaeography, sometimes spelled “paleography”, is the study of writing. Specifically, it is the study of ancient writings and may include studying the methodology of the physical act of creating writing as well as the deciphering and reading of ancient manuscripts. It differs from linguistics, which is the study of language.
Some people become proficient in palaeography, often focusing on one major culture, such as the Maya or Aztec, or one area of the world, such as Egypt, Greece, or Rome. These experts spend much of their time reading and attempting to translate the writings of the ancients, but they also investigate how writing influenced the cultures of the time. The ability to write was limited to religious orders in many ancient cultures, so paleographers often spend time studying monks, priests, and other religious leaders as well.
Other professionals also find palaeography useful in their careers. For example, historians, especially those who study ancient times, often find that the ability to understand ancient writings helps create a clearer chronology of historical events. Anthropologists and archaeologists also frequently study paleography to help locate people, events, and structures within cultural contexts.
However, palaeography goes far beyond translating the written word. He also studies the methodology of writing. This may include studying ancient tools, including chisels, quills, printing blocks, and ancient pencils. It may also include the study of ancient inks and writing materials, such as papyrus and vegetable-based inks.
It also involves studying the importance of writing itself. In some cultures, writing was considered a sacred act and took place only in specially prepared areas. In others, anyone who can form letters and symbols could create a document. Some cultures wrote only to document events or information, while others wrote for entertainment or religious purposes.
In addition to helping scholars understand ancient cultures and history, paleography can help experts distinguish between ancient and forged documents. In most cultures, writing style, including word usage, sentence structure, word formation, and writing, has changed over time. Paleographers can use the clues provided by these details to uncover forgeries.
The word “paleography” is a combination of the Greek words palaiós, which means “old” and graphein, which means “to write”. The term was used at least as early as 1708, when the Benedictine monk Bernard de Montfaucon wrote Paleographia Graeca. Another Benedictine monk, Jean Mabillon, is considered the father of the modern study of palaeography.
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