Aurelii Augustini De Civitate Dei: An Electronic Edition (Franzini)

(PhD in Digital Humanities)

Working Title

A Digital Transcription and Edition of the Oldest Surviving Manuscript of Augustine's De Civitate Dei

GRETA FRANZINI

Supervisors:

• [Prof. Melissa Terras (UCL Centre for Digital Humanities): Lead Supervisor
• Simon Mahony (UCL Centre for Digital Humanities): Second Supervisor

Abstract

The focus of my doctoral studies at the UCL Centre for Digital Humanities is the creation of a digital edition of the oldest surviving manuscript of S. Augustine's De Civitate Dei. The manuscript dates back to the early fifth century and most of the existing, scarce research we have predates the 1950s. Its much debated provenance and authorship, due to it being contemporary to Augustine himself, are as intriguing as its rare palaeographical features and marginalia. My research seeks to, firstly, examine best practice in the field of digital editions by collating relevant evidence in a detailed catalogue of extant digital editions. The catalogue records features, scope, philological as well as technological aspects of each edition and aims at becoming a collaborative scholarly endeavour for the benefit of the Digital Humanities community. Secondly (and consequently), lessons learnt from the catalogue will inform the production of an electronic edition of the manuscript, which will include transcriptions of the text and the scholia, images, a short critical apparatus, as well as background information and links to relevant resources.

Presentations

• A Catalogue of Digital Editions. Digital Humanities 2013, Lincoln, University of Nebraska, 18 July 2013.
• A Catalogue of Digital Editions: Towards an Electronic Edition of St. Augustine’s De Civitate Dei. The Digital Classicist Seminar Series, London, 12 July 2013.