scriptorium
Monastic writing chamber
A scriptorium is a room in a medieval monastery devoted to the copying of manuscripts.
Before printing, monks worked in scriptoria producing religious texts, classical works, and illuminated manuscripts by hand.
The word occasionally describes any dedicated writing space: She converted the spare bedroom into her personal scriptorium.
Treated hide for manuscripts
- vellumPrepared calfskin for writing
- quillFeather used for writing
- codexAncient bound manuscript
- folioSingle-fold page format
palimpsest · illumination · calligraphy · incunabula · colophon · miniature · gloss · binding
Furniture for writing
- inkwellContainer for dipping pens
- quillFeather used for writing
- scrollWound document of parchment
- lecternTilted stand for texts
candle · penknife · ruling · gallnut · reed pen · stylus · wax tablet · scraper
Religious seclusion dwelling
- abbeyMonastic house of worship
- cloisterCovered monastic walkway
- monkCloistered religious devotee
- copyistDocument duplicator by hand
friar · priory · convent · cell · dormitory · refectory · chapter house · Benedictine
Reproducing something exactly
- translationConverting between languages
- annotationAdded explanatory comment
- commentaryExplanatory remarks on events
- scholarshipEducational funding or erudition
preservation · theology · philosophy · grammar · rhetoric · Latin · Greek · learning
Book collection or building
- archiveStored historical records
- collectionGathered set of items
- repositoryPlace for storing things
- preservationMaintaining something's condition
cataloguing · classification · bibliography · bibliotheca · inventory · acquisition · lending
parchment
Treated hide for manuscripts
folio · palimpsest · illumination · calligraphy · incunabula · colophon · miniature · gloss · binding · paleography
desk
Furniture for writing
lectern · candle · penknife · ruling · gallnut · reed pen · stylus · wax tablet · scraper · pumice
monastery
Religious seclusion dwelling
copyist · friar · priory · convent · cell · dormitory · refectory · chapter house · Benedictine · devotion
copying
Reproducing something exactly
- translationConverting between languages
- annotationAdded explanatory comment
- commentaryExplanatory remarks on events
scholarship · preservation · theology · philosophy · grammar · rhetoric · Latin · Greek · learning · education
library
Book collection or building
- archiveStored historical records
- collectionGathered set of items
- repositoryPlace for storing things
preservation · cataloguing · classification · bibliography · bibliotheca · inventory · acquisition · lending
- medievalknights, castles, cathedral, kings, queens
- Gaelic Irelandhigh king, Book of Kells, Tara, druid, chieftain
- Medieval Englandking, kings, castle, castles, knight
- monastic lifecelibacy, cloister, habit, vespers, obedience
- monasticismabbeys, abbey, abbots, abbot, cloister
- Abbeyabbey church, cloister, chapter house, refectory
scriptoriumlibrary
Book collection or building
reading room · archive · repository · bookshop · lending library
scriptoriumprinting press
Mechanical text reproduction device
print shop · printing house · publishing house · Gutenberg press · pressroom
scriptoriumnewspaper office
Journalism operation's headquarters
description, scribble, prescription, manuscript, scribe, prescribe, inscribe, transcribe, scripture