On early antiquarians in Asia Minor to the start of the 19th century
Abstract
This
paper covers a period of 400 years, from 1400 to 1800, and the antiquarian
activities of more than 60 named Europeans, there are doubtless others, who
were involved in transcribing, and at times, through their agents and Ottoman
associates, guides, villagers and Greek priests, those who related the position
and at times enabled the physical removal of ancient inscriptions from Asia
Minor; as well as the associated antiquarian collecting of “marbles,” ancient
manuscripts, medals-coins, inscribed gem-stones and other inscription bearing
materials. Some of this material was lost at sea, while some ancient
inscriptions brought from Asia Minor were damaged, lost or destroyed in
warfare in Europe. Following Ciriaco de Pizzicolli’s transcriptions in the 15th
c. and the few inscriptions transcribed by Pierre Belon in 1546-9, it seems to
have been the Bishop of Agria (Eger), Antonius Verantius’s
transcription of the Res Gestae Divi Augusti and the copy made by Busbecq’s servants in Ankara in 1555 which, when
circulated and then published, underlined to European scholars the importance
of the surviving ancient epigraphic record in Asia Minor. From the start
of the 17th c. an increasing number of educated European
antiquarians undertook the recording of the surviving visible inscriptions,
largely in coastal regions and along the major trade routes of Asia Minor.
Note is taken of the variety of recorded Ottoman views concerning these ancient
inscriptions, of their transcription and, at times, their removal by European berat holders; together with some
examples of the inaccuracies of the transcriptions of inscriptions that were
made.
Keywords
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
-
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Terrance Michael Patrick Duggan
Türkiye
Publication Date
May 15, 2019
Submission Date
October 20, 2018
Acceptance Date
January 31, 2019
Published in Issue
Year 2019 Volume: 17
Cited By
THE AMERICAN CONSUL CESNOLA BROTHERS AND THE FATE OF ANTIQUITIES IN OTTOMAN CYPRUS
Bingöl Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi
https://doi.org/10.29029/busbed.945630