epigraphist
Ancient writing scholar
An epigraphist is a scholar who studies inscriptions—text carved, engraved, or written on durable materials like stone, metal, or clay.
The field, epigraphy, focuses on deciphering and interpreting ancient writings that survive on monuments, coins, and artifacts: The epigraphist spent years analyzing Greek tomb inscriptions.
Inscribed memorial pillar
- epitaphText honoring the deceased
- carvingShaping by cutting away
- engravingCarving into hard surfaces
- tabletFlat portable computing device
monument · plaque · lettering · script · glyphs · bas-relief · palimpsest · graffito
Symbolic picture-based writing
- cuneiformStylus-impressed ancient script
- RosettaTrilingual Egyptian artifact
- SumerianEarliest known civilization
- AkkadianAncient Semitic Mesopotamian language
Babylonian · Mayan · Vedic · Sanskrit · Phoenician · Etruscan · Aramaic · demotic
Act of unearthing
- siteDesignated location
- digUnearth by shoveling
- ruinsDecayed structural remains
- templeSacred worship structure
tomb · artifact · in situ · documentation · photography · rubbing · squeeze · cast
Study of ancient handwriting
- philologyStudy of historical texts
- linguisticsScience of language structure
- numismaticsStudy of currency
- academicRelating to education or theory
researcher · publication · corpus · edition · commentary · journal · conference · specialization
Converting between languages
- interpretationAssigned meaning
- decodingExtracting meaning from symbols
- transliterationCross-script phonetic spelling
- reconstructionRebuilding after destruction
damaged · fragmentary · lacuna · reading · transcription · analysis · comparison · identification
stele
Inscribed memorial pillar
tablet · monument · plaque · lettering · script · glyphs · bas-relief · palimpsest · graffito · dedicatory
hieroglyphics
Symbolic picture-based writing
- cuneiformStylus-impressed ancient script
- RosettaTrilingual Egyptian artifact
- SumerianEarliest known civilization
Akkadian · Babylonian · Mayan · Vedic · Sanskrit · Phoenician · Etruscan · Aramaic · demotic · classical
excavation
Act of unearthing
temple · tomb · artifact · in situ · documentation · photography · rubbing · squeeze · cast · survey
paleography
Study of ancient handwriting
- philologyStudy of historical texts
- linguisticsScience of language structure
- numismaticsStudy of currency
academic · researcher · publication · corpus · edition · commentary · journal · conference · specialization · expertise
translation
Converting between languages
- interpretationAssigned meaning
- decodingExtracting meaning from symbols
- transliterationCross-script phonetic spelling
reconstruction · damaged · fragmentary · lacuna · reading · transcription · analysis · comparison · identification · dating
epigraphistcalligrapher
Decorative handwriting artist
engraver · lapidary · letterer · typographer · scribe