Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae
Hermann Dessau began compiling a three-volume collection of Latin inscriptions in the late nineteenth century. He edited this massive work to serve scholars seeking specific examples rather than exhaustive catalogs. The project spanned twenty-four years, with publication occurring serially from 1892 until 1916. Dessau chose to include only selected texts instead of reproducing every known inscription. This decision created a manageable resource for researchers working on Roman history and epigraphy. Supporting material throughout the volumes remained entirely in Latin. The first volume appeared in Berlin during 1892 and covered entries numbered one through 2956.
Dessau arranged each entry within distinct chapters based on subject matter. These chapters carried the Latin name capita, with caput serving as the singular form. A chapter might focus on funerary inscriptions or documents related to collegia. Every single inscription received a unique identifying number assigned by the editor. Scholars could locate any text simply by referencing its ILS number. This numerical system allowed researchers to cross-reference different collections without confusion. The method prioritized topical grouping over chronological order or geographic origin.
Academics frequently cite an inscription using both the ILS number and a Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum reference. For instance, a researcher might point to CIL 12.2.774 alongside ILS 39. This dual citation practice standardizes how epigraphic evidence appears in academic papers. The abbreviation D sometimes replaces Dessau's full name when citing the work. Such references appear in studies ranging from university dissertations to specialized monographs. The system ensures that even obscure texts remain accessible to modern historians. It bridges the gap between selective anthologies and comprehensive corpora.
The serial publication process stretched across two decades before the final volume appeared. Volume three arrived in parts during 1914 and 1916 with an index included at the end. Numerous reprints kept the physical books available for decades after their initial release. Modern digital archives now host downloadable versions of all three volumes. The Internet Archive provides access to the complete text of each part. A searchable online database known as Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss/Slaby also includes the collection under the abbreviation D. These resources allow global access without requiring travel to major research libraries.
A concordance linking ILS entries to the Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum emerged in the mid-twentieth century. Rome published one version of this cross-reference tool in 1950. Berlin released a second edition five years later in 1955. This concordance allowed scholars to map Dessau's selections onto the larger corpus systematically. It facilitated comparisons between the selected texts and the full archive of Latin inscriptions. The publication dates mark a significant effort to integrate different scholarly traditions. Researchers could now move seamlessly between the selective work and the comprehensive source material.
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Common questions
When did Hermann Dessau begin compiling Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae?
Hermann Dessau began compiling the three-volume collection of Latin inscriptions in the late nineteenth century. The project spanned twenty-four years with publication occurring serially from 1892 until 1916.
What is the meaning of caput in Hermann Dessau's Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae chapters?
Caput serves as the singular form for the Latin name given to each chapter within the work. These chapters organize entries by subject matter such as funerary inscriptions or documents related to collegia.
How can scholars locate specific texts using Hermann Dessau's Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae?
Scholars locate any text simply by referencing its unique identifying number assigned by the editor known as an ILS number. This numerical system allows researchers to cross-reference different collections without confusion.
Where was the first volume of Hermann Dessau's Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae published and when?
The first volume appeared in Berlin during 1892 and covered entries numbered one through 2956. Supporting material throughout all volumes remained entirely in Latin.
When did Rome publish a concordance linking Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae to Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum?
Rome published one version of this cross-reference tool in 1950. A second edition released from Berlin followed five years later in 1955.