Projekt

Zur Projekt-Website

Initiative:	Zwischen Europa und Orient - Mittelasien/Kaukasus im Fokus der Wissenschaft
Ausschreibung:	Ausschreibung: Strukturell orientierte Maßnahmen
Bewilligung:	29.05.2017
Laufzeit:	3 Jahre

The infrastructure project will put the scientific analysis of the oldest texts of the Armenian language, which are preserved in palimpsest form, on a contemporary basis. It will pave the way for providing essential new knowledge about the early history of Armenian literacy as well as the development of the Armenian Christian tradition in the Caucasus. The Matenadaran (Scientific Research Institute of Ancient Manuscripts named after Mesrop Mashtots) in Yerevan houses a total of at least 50 palimpsest manuscripts comprising about 1,500 folios (plus some 4,500 fragments) from the time of the 5th-10th cc.. A.D., whose scientific analysis has hitherto been possible only to a small extent. The use of a multispectral digitization system and the experiences made in predecessor projects open up completely new perspectives for a systematic exploration of the contents of these handwritten codices, which comprise the oldest available testimonies of the Armenian language (about 5th-8th cc.). Within the German-Armenian cooperation project, which also involves a French consultant, the texts contained in these manuscripts are to be prepared for scientific editions.

• Prof. Dr. Jost Gippert

  Universität Frankfurt am Main
  Fachbereich 09: Sprach- und Kulturwissenschaften
  Institut für Empirische Sprachwissenschaft
  Vergleichende Sprachwissenschaft
  Frankfurt am Main
  

• Dr. Vahan Ter-Ghevondyan

  MATENADARAN -
  Scientific Research Institute of Ancient
  Manuscripts named after Mesrop Mashtots
  Yerevan
  Armenien