paleography

paleography, study of ancient and medieval handwriting. The term is derived from the Greek palaios (“old”) and graphein (“to write”). Precise boundaries for paleography are hard to define. For example, epigraphy, the study of inscriptions cut on immovable objects for permanent public inspection, is related to paleography. Casual graffiti, sale or election notices as found on the walls of Pompeii, and Christian inscriptions in the Roman catacombs are likewise part of paleographical knowledge. In general,...