Data Example of the CIDOC Reference Model
- Epitaphios GE34604 -
by
Martin Doerr
ICS-FORTH,
and
Ifigenia Dionissiadou
October
2, 1998
Introduction:
(by Martin Doerr)
We have created an example of how data appear under the CIDOC Reference Model to illustrate the way of semantic analysis. The data were assembled at the Museum Benaki from their holdings, put into a database implementation of the CIDOC Reference model at ICS-FORTH and from there exported to the form below. The actual form is arbitrary, the model describes only tags, connectivity and entities. I propose the reader to read the comments after a first glance at the data. Here our object:
Comments on the form:
(by Martin Doerr)
This is an example, how the “symmetric” CRM can be turned into a format from the perspective of an object.
This is not a proposal for a standard for a documentation format, but it illustrates the possible semantic analysis of an object description into a view neutral machine-interpretable form. If the respective inverse attribute names are used,
the information below can be turned into a description of a person (e.g. George of Kyriaze), of historical events, of places etc.
All "short cut" attributes are in italics. They can
typically be expanded into respective actions leading to the described state.
Some of the respective actions actually follow later in the text.
All inverse attribute names are ommitted to demonstrate, how
a schema is derived from the network of concepts.
All entity instances are in bold, commented with the entity
name in parenthesis. Only after the attribute "has type", I have
ommitted "(entity Type)".
I have assigned a natural expression as identifier for all
entity instances, in the manner of a semantic net, except for the time-span
objects, where I used a "-" sign. Activities which do not read well
as expression I put in "< >" brackets.
Only used attributes are displayed to demonstrate what means
"optional".
I have expanded all information in indentation at first
occurrence. Second occurrence of any entity instance is not expanded, but
marked with (see also). Please note, that all further occurences are references
in the real model, NOT repititions, as the textual form may suggest. Each such
reference could appear as well at the referred, using the inverse name of the
attribute! E.g. “<Despoineta’s
professional period> (entity Activity) …carried out by Despoineta (see above)” would in
complete expansion also appear as “Despoineta
(entity Person)… carried out <Despoineta’s
professional period> (see below)”, because the full model registers this
attribute as “carried out by (carried out)”.
Geographic information was controlled against TGN. I actually
disagreed with TGN, that
The "Tranfer" entity is a good example of multiple
instantiation. An open question is, if we should create an entity which
describes the "normal" case, where acquisition and transfer of
custody cooccurs for the same persons.
I’d like to thank the Museum Benaki for these beautiful data.
Martin Doerr
Formal Description:
Epitaphios GE34604 (E19.Physical_Object)
P47F.is_identified_by
TA 959a (E42.Object_Identifier)
GE 34604 (E42.Object_Identifier)
P48F.has_preferred_identifier
GE 34604 (E42.Object_Identifier)
P2F.has_type
ecclesiastical embroidery
liturgical cloth
P52F.has_current_owner
Museum Benaki (E40.Legal_Body)
P2F.has_type
private museum
P76F.has_contact_point
<Ifigenia Dionissiadu> ifi@benaki.gr (E51.Contact_Point)
P51F.has_former_or_current_owner
Georgios,
son of Kyriazes (E21.Person)
P3F.has_note
'He
was pilgrim of the
P2F.has_type
ecclesiastical institution
Museum Benaki (E40.Legal_Body)
P50F.has_current_keeper
Museum
Benaki (E40.Legal_Body)
P49F.has_former_or_current_keeper
Museum Benaki (E40.Legal_Body)
P30B.custody_transferred_through
Transfer of Epitaphios GE34604 (E10.Transfer_of_Custody,
E8.Acquisition)
P28F.custody_surrendered_by
P23F.transferred_title_from
P29F.custody_received_by
Museum Benaki (E40.Legal_Body)
P22F.transferred_title_to
Exchangable Fund of Refugees (E40.Legal_Body)
P2F.has_type
national
foundation
P14F.carried_out_by
Exchangable Fund of Refugees (E40.Legal_Body)
P4F.has_time-span
- (E52.Time-Span)
P82F.at_some_time_within
1923 - 1928
(E61.Time_Primitive)
P7F.took_place_at
P2F.has_type
nation
republic
P89F.falls_within
P2F.has_type
continent
P55F.has_current_location
drawer 8 / case 27 / room 6 / floor -1 / new wing (E53.Place)
P2F.has_type
drawer
P89F.falls_within
P2F.has_type
museum building
P87F.is_identified_by
Koumbari Street 1,
P89F.falls_within
P2F.has_type
city
national capital
P89F.falls_within
P54F.has_current_permanent_location
drawer 8 / case 27 / room 6 / floor -1 / new wing (E53.Place)
P53F.has_former_or_current_location
drawer 8 / case 27 / room 6 / floor -1 / new wing (E53.Place)
P2F.has_type
city
national capital
P89F.falls_within
P2F.has_type
region
P89F.falls_within
P2F.has_type
continent
P2F.has_type
nation
republic
P88F.consists_of
P2F.has_type
region
P89F.falls_within
P108B.was_produced_by
<Creation
of Epitaphios GE34604> (E12.Production)
P2F.has_type
handwork
P3F.has_note
“information
is derived from the inscription”'
P4F.has_time-span
-
(E52.Time-Span)
P82F.at_some_time_within
1682 - 1682
(E61.Time_Primitive)
P7F.took_place_at
P87F.is_identified_by
Κωνσταντινούπολις (E44.Place_Appellation)
P2F.has_type
city
P89F.falls_within
P14F.carried_out_by
Despoineta (E21.Person)
P2F.has_type
needle woman
P32F.used_general_technique
gold and silver embroidering (E55.Type)
P20F.had_specific_purpose
Order by Georgios, son of Kyriazes (E7.Activity)
P2F.has_type
commercial order
P14F.carried_out_by
Georgios, son of Kyriazes (E21.Person)
P20F.had_specific_purpose
Donation by Georgios, son of Kyriazes (E8.Acquisition)
P2F.has_type
donation to ecclesiastical institution
P24F.transferred_title_of
Epitaphios GE34604 (E19.Physical_Object)
Cross GE34059
P2F.has_type
processory
cross
P52F.has_current_owner
Museum Benaki (E40.Legal_Body)
P23F.transferred_title_from
Georgios, son of Kyriazes (E21.Person)
P22F.transferred_title_to
P7F.took_place_at
P10F.falls_within
<Despoineta’s professional period> (E7.Activity)
P2F.has_type
needle work
P14F.carried_out_by
Despoineta (E21.Person)
P4F.has_time-span
-
(E52.Time-Span)
P82F.at_some_time_within
1682 - 1723 (E61.Time_Primitive)
P7F.took_place_at
P62F.depicts
The Lament (E55.Type)
P65F.shows_visual_item
Inscription of Epitaphios GE34604 (E34.Inscription)
P72F.has_language
medieval Greek
P3F.has_note
Inscription text:
Center:
«ΔΙΑ ΧΕΙΡΟΣ ΑΧΡΕΙΑΣ ΔΕΣΠΟΙΝΕΤΑΣ, ΗΜ(ων) ΔΕΣΠΟΙΝΗΣ ΔΟΥΛΗΣ, ΦΕΙΛΟΠΟΝΕΙΤΑΙ ΤΟ
ΠΑΡΟΝ, ΕΝ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΥΠΟΛΕΙ»
On the lower side:
«ΤΗΝ ΠΑΝΣΕΤΠΤΟΝ ΜΩΡΦΗΝ ΤΗΣ ΣΗΣ ΕΠΙΤΥΜΒΙΟΥ ΧΑΡΑΚΤΗΡΙΣΑΣ Π[ΡΟΣΕ]ΘΗΚΕΝ ΤΗΔΕ
Μ(ητρ)ΟΠΟΛΕΙ ΑΓΓ[ΥΡΑ]Σ ΤΗΣ ΠΡ[…]ΣΤ […] ΚΥΡΙΑΖΗ ΔΕ ΓΟΝΟΣ [ΠΡ]ΟΣΚΥΝΗΤΗΣ ΚΑΙ
ΔΟΥΛΟΣ ΣΟΥ, ΘΕΙΕ Θ(εο)Υ ΛΟΓΕ ΓΕ[ΩΡ]Γ[ΙΟΣ]»
On the right:
« ΕΝ ΕΤΕΙ Σ(ωτη)ΡΙΩ ΑΧΠΒ..: ΟΤΕ ΕΝ ΤΩ ΤΑΦΩ ΤΩ ΚΕΝΩ, ΥΠΕΡ ΤΟΥ ΠΑΝΤΟΣ ΚΑΤΕΤΕΘΗΣ Ο
ΠΟΙΗΤΗΣ | ΤΟΥ ΠΑΝΤΟΣ ΑΔΗΣ Ο ΠΑΓΓΕΛΑΣΤΟΣ ΕΙΔΟΝ ΣΕ ΕΦΡΙΞΕΝ ΟΙ ΜΟΧΛΟΙ ΣΥΝΕΤΡΙΒΗΣΑΝ
ΕΘΛΑΣΘΗΣΑΝ ΠΥΛΑΙ ΜΝΗΜΑΤΑ ΕΙΝΗΧΘΗΣΗΣΑΝ, Σ(ωτ)ΕΡ ΑΝΕΒΟΑ ΣΟΙ ΔΟΞΑ, ΤΗ ΟΙΚΟΝΟΜΙΑ
ΣΟΥ ΦΙΛ|ΑΝ(θρωπ)Ε.»
On the upper inner zone:
Η ΖΩΗ ΕΝ ΤΑΦΩ ΚΑΤΕΤΕΘΗΣ Χ(ριστ)Ε, ΚΑΙ ΑΓΓΕΛΩΝ ΣΤΡΑΤΙΑΙ ΕΞΕΠΛΗΤΤΩΝΤΟ,
ΣΥΓΚΑΤΑΒΑΣΙΝ ΔΟΞΑΖΟΥΣΑΙ ΤΗΝ ΣΗΝ.
On the lower inner zone:
+ ΑΙ ΓΕΝΝΕΑΙ ΠΑΣΣΑΙ ΥΜΝΟΝ ΤΗ ΤΑΦΗ ΣΟΥ ΠΡ[ΟΣΦΕΡΟ]ΜΕΝ ΧΡΙ[ΙΣΤΕ ΜΟΥ .Τ]ΡΙΑΣ ΘΕΕ
ΜΟ[Υ ΠΑΤΗΡ ΥΙΟ]Σ ΚΑΙ ΠΝ(ευμ)Α ΕΛΕΗΣΟΝ ΤΟΝ ΚΟΣΜΟΝ.
On the left inner zone:
Ο ΕΥΣΧΗΜΟΝ ΙΩΣΗΦ ΑΠΟ ΤΟΥ ΞΥΛΟΥ ΚΑΘΕΛΩΝ ΤΟ ΑΧΡΑΝΤΟΝ ΣΟΥ ΣΩΜΑ ΣΙΝΔΟΝΙ ΚΑΘΑΡΑ
ΕΙΛΙΣΑΣ. Εις την δεξιά: + ΑΞΙΟΝ ΕΣΤΙ
ΜΕΓΑΛΛΥΝΕΙΝ ΣΕ ΤΟΝ ΖΩΟΔΟΤΗΝ ΤΟΝ ΕΝ ΤΩ ΣΤ(αυ)ΡΩ ΤΑΣ ΧΕΙΡΑΣ ΕΚΤΕΙΝΑΝΤΑ Κ(αι)
ΣΥΝΤΡΙ
P101F.had_as_general_use
epitaphios function (E55.Type)
P103F.was_intended_for
epitaphios function (E55.Type)
P43F.has_dimension
length 1.50 m
width 1.12 m
P57F.has_number_of_parts
1 piece
P88F.consists_of
silver thread (E57.Material)
gold thread (E57.Material)
silk cloth (E57.Material)
ANNOTATION to the model
of the Epitaphios GE34604 of the Benaki Museum
(by Ifigenia Dionissiadou)
Following the sequence of the description of the model:
Identification Information
EpitaphiusGE34604 is instance of Iconographic object, because its main characteristic is based on iconography and we need to be able -to have the attributes- to describe iconography.
EpitaphiusGE34604 has two identifiers - the old TA 959a and the current (preferred identifier) GE34604.
Its category (ObjectName type) is double: it belongs to the group of ecclesiastical embroideries, which in the thesaurus of Object types (all types of the model are supposed to be build in a thesaurus of terms) should be subclass of Embroideries, which should be subclass of Objects According To Their Technique.
It is also an liturgical cloth, which in the thesaurus of Object types should be subclass of Cloth etc. In this way the user may retrieve EpitaphiusGE34604 through a number of broader terms of different semantic nature.
Acquisition & Ownership Information
** The CIDOC
model as developed until now does not have a link between the museum object and
the Collection in which it falls within. This is an important
collections management information to be added in the future. In this example,
EpitaphiusGE34604 belongs to the Post-Byzantine collection of the
EpitaphiosGE34604 has current owner the
The previous (former) owners were: first a person called Georgios the son of Kyriazes -information about him are given in the note - and, later on, an ecclesiastical institution called Metropolitan Church of The Greek Community of Ankara.
The transfer of physical custody of the object is described though the attributes former/current keeper.
At this point we might want to be more analytical and describe that this object was brought in Greece by the Greek refugees in 1923, during the expulsion of the Greeks from Asia Minor and was delivered to the Exchangeable Fund of Refugees as part of the property of the Greek Community of Ankara; in 1928 the Exchangeable Fund of Refugees deposited this object to the Benaki Museum. If we don’t need to model the above information, we may input them as text in the has note attribute of the former/current keeper entity. In that case, we miss from the retrieval the mediation of the Exchangable Fund of Refugees and the time-span of the transfer. If we want to model them, we may chose to analyze the following:
Epitaphios GE34604 changed custody (custody-changed-by) though the activity called Transfer of Epitaphios GE34604, instance of Transfer of Custody and instance of Acquisition in the CIDOC model (which means that this instance inherits attributes from both Transfer of Custody and Acquisition activities).
During that activity physical custody was surrendered
by the Metropolitan Church of Ankara and
received by the
Location Information
The full description of the location is documented.
The Location type thesaurus categorizes the kinds of storage spaces we use. The
current location is
included in (falls within) the
Current permanent location and current location might be different in cases that the museum object has been transferred for conservation, exhibition, study etc.
Former
location should be the building which used to be
the headquarters of the ecclesiastical institution of the
In that point, we should comment on how the CIDOC model treats references to a place: starting from a certain address, we describe the total chain of inclusions (an address falls within a city, which falls within a region, which falls within a country, which falls within a continent etc.) This geographical analysis enables the user to retrieve places through the broader areas where they are situated. Each place is described once in the model, according to a certain authority, like TGN. After that, every reference of the database to the already described place (e.g. as place of creation or use of a museum object, place of birth or death of a person, place where an activity took place) is automatically linked with the whole chain of broader places, as well.
Historical Information
The creation (or better production) of
EpitaphiusGE34604 is treated in the CIDOC model like
an activity: it has type, time-span and it took
place in the city of
Here I should mention that
The creation of EpitaphiusGE34604 was carried out by a person (could be a group alternatively), it was done by using a general technique (which again is a type in the Technique Thesaurus, unless we have reasons to describe its process in the model; in that case the specific technique becomes a defined activity, subclass of Production).
The creation of EpitaphiusGE34604 t was
done for a specific purpose : it was ordered by George the son of Kyriazes
to donate it, together with a processory cross, to
the
Why analyzing this incidence into three
separate activities? Because creation, order and donation might have happened
in different places and time-spans, by different people and we need to be able
to describe them with precision. In our case, the EpitaphiusGE34604 was made in
the city of
The falls within link (read as : the creation
of EpitaphiusGE34604 falls within Despoineta’s
professional period) provide us information about Despoineta’s
professional activity as a needle woman.
Despoineta’s embroidery is treated like an
activity carried out by Despoineta during the time-span
1682-1723 and took place in
Description Information
EpitaphiosGE34604 depicts concept of the Lament. Lament is regarded to be an
iconographic type, which in the
thesaurus of iconographic types should be further described (the typical byzantine scene of the dead Christ after His deposition
from the cross. The Virgin, Joseph of Arimathia and
The EpitaphiusGE34604 also shows visual item an inscription. The CIDOC model regards as Inscription only the context (the text) of the inscription, not its physical presence, which could be described through the bears feature attribute that EpitaphiusGE34604 may have (create a separate entity, instance of Man-Made Feature). The reason that the CIDOC model separates the physical from the conceptual nature of an inscription is that the context (text) of an inscription might be found written in more than one physical objects (e.g. our Epitaphius’ inscription includes a religious text that is typically found on many other objects of its kind). Furthermore, the text, as such, has attributes of conceptual nature, which don’t correspond to physical objects: only a conceptual Linguistic Object, has language (further analyzed into script, type of letters etc.) or translation.
General and intended use are the same in our case: the object was made to fulfill its general use (in some cases this doesn’t happen, like decorative knifes). Epitaphius function is again a Function type, which could be further described in the thesaurus (the orthodox church celebrates Christ’s Deposition in a certain ceremony which takes place in Good Friday and during which the Epitaphius is used as an icon and after that it is set on the Holy Altar to remain there until the day of Assumption)
Physical description Information
Being a physical object, EpitaphiusGE34604 has dimensions and parts and consists of certain materials, which are types of the Material Thesaurus