Miroslav Čovan / Anna Barnau The Culture of Latin Inscriptions in Slovakia – New Findings in Epigraphy

About this book

This scholarly monograph presents a new perspective on the study of Latin inscriptions in Slovakia. Inscriptions are inseparable from the objects that bear them—whether monumental architecture, funerary monuments, or small everyday artefacts—and therefore preserve unique connections between text, material, and historical context.

The publication highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between historians, epigraphers, and restorers. Modern restoration techniques and careful cleaning methods have recently revealed authentic inscription layers that remained hidden for centuries, significantly expanding our knowledge of epigraphic heritage.

The book also explores the historical development of inscription culture, from the limited use of written texts in the medieval period to the remarkable growth of inscriptions during the Renaissance, Humanism, and the Reformation. In these periods, inscriptions evolved from traditional liturgical formulas into expressive elements of decoration, featuring classical maxims, humanistic poetry, and quotations reflecting the intellectual and religious debates of the time.

Drawing on newly discovered material, the monograph demonstrates the exceptional value of inscriptions for research in cultural history, genealogy, linguistics, and the history of everyday life. Gravestones, epitaphs, and commemorative texts reveal information about individuals, family networks, education, and social mobility, while also documenting local events such as fires, epidemics, and economic changes.

By integrating new epigraphic findings into the broader Central European context, this publication offers an important contribution to the understanding of historical memory, literacy, and cultural identity in the region.