Signed, sealed, delivered – digital approaches to Byzantine sigillography

Abstract

Abstract In this paper we present a number of digital approaches in the field of Byzantine sigillography conducted in two projects currently running at the University of Cologne. We describe how technologies and methodologies from the Digital Humanities can help overcome some of the limitations in Byzantine sigillography that result from and contribute to its status as a ‘rare subject’. Building on a long tradition and leveraging methods and techniques from the Digital Humanities, this paper describes some important steps already taken towards a digital renewal of the discipline. We are well aware that it takes much more than a locally organised group of scholars to establish any discipline anew, and so this paper aims to be a stimulus to future work.