Getting Started

Each Art Theme gets a file with an ID assigned (= ATID). Before creating a new ATID make sure it does not already exist, if you create the file on the app make sure you:

1. a) add the ID to the taxonomy in the Art Themes section;
2. b) create a new file and save it in new;
3. c) commit the newly created file.

The ID should be concise, and should ideally allow identification of Theme/Object:

• Art Theme ID (ATID) = AT1005Crucifixion (AT + incremental number + first word of Art Theme)

Title

For the title of the work, when possible:

1. a) include a most common definition in British English;
2. b) include Ge'ez title;
3. c) consider including alternative titles used in principal art projects (e.g. ICONCLASS, Artstor, Index of Christian Art).

Ex. 1

<titleStmt>
   <title>Crucifixion of Jesus</title>
</titleStmt>

Description

Each ATID should contain a brief description outlining its subject-matter and principal recurring features. This saves repeating information in the actual description of the manuscript, where details and variants should be encoded. If more than one typology is attested for a particular art theme in the Ethiopian tradition, provide a brief description of the features of each typology.

In addition to this basic information you may choose to provide references to person, places and textual units IDs that inform the content of the ATID (e.g The Crucifixion will include a reference to the Gospels) and/or, where possible, to the relevant passages of that work with @cRef:

                  <abstract>
                     <p> Miniature showing <persName ref="PRS5684JesusCh">Jesus</persName> in the Garden of Gethsemane before his Arrest,
                        (<ref cRef="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0031.tlg001.perseus-grc1:26.36">Mt 26:36</ref>;
                        <ref cRef="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0031.tlg002.perseus-grc1:14.32"> Mk 14:32</ref>;
                        <ref cRef="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0031.tlg003.perseus-grc1:22.39">Lk 22:39</ref>;).
                     </p>
                  </abstract>
               

The presence and text of captions and legends should be encoded and ideally transcribed in the manuscript description, not in the Art Theme record, see decoration description.

Ex. 2

               <abstract>
                  <p> A miniature showing the Crucifixion of  <persName ref="PRS5684JesusCh">Jesus</persName>.
                     The scene may include several additional figures, such as the  <persName ref="PRS6819Mary">Virgin Mary</persName> or
                     <persName ref="PRS5695John">John</persName>, the scene typically follows the account of the
                     <ref type="work" corresp="LIT1560Gospel">Gospels</ref>, but  may include iconographic elements inspired by
                     apocryphal sources.

                     The three main typologies attested in the Ethiopian tradition are:
                     <list>
                        <item>Type 1 <desc>There is an Empty Cross and there are figures associated with it
                           (i.e. it is not just an interlaced cross).</desc>
                        </item>
                        <item>Type 2 <desc>The body of  Living Jesus is nailed to the cross.</desc>
                        </item>
                        <item>Type 3 <desc>The body of the Dead Jesus is nailed to the cross.</desc>
                        </item>
                     </list>
                  </p>
               </abstract>

N.B. Typologies are encoded using keywords, see the authority files for further details.

Consider including relevant keywords (e.g. The Theme of the Crucifixion should contain keywords such as Bible; Crucifixion; Passion of Jesus; New Testament) to link it to other works (artistic/literary) and content that is relevant to that ATID, these are placed after <abstract>↗.

Ex. 3

<textClass>
  <keywords scheme="#ethioauthlist">
  <term key="Bible"></term>
  <term key="NewTestament"></term>
  </keywords>
</textClass>

Relations

As in all other records, a <listRelation>↗ can be added to Art Theme records to list specific relations between this and other records. For the encoding of relations, see Relations. For the relation between an Art Theme and the entities it is depicting, use < relation name="ecrm:P129_is_about">↗:

               <listRelation>
                  <relation name="ecrm:P129_is_about" active="AT1108MMDaqseyos" passive="LIT3586Miracle"></relation>
               </listRelation>
               

Also relations to external authorities, like ICONCLASS are very useful, for disambiguation and enrichment of the data. In Nativity of Mary you can see the connections which can be based on a simple relation like the following.

                     <relation name="skos:exactMatch" active="AT1026NativityMary" passive="ic:73A31"></relation>
               

Bibliography

Lastly, please include at least a couple of references to the relevant bibliography at the end of your file. If there are works that deal with the history of the ATID in Ethiopia, these should be always included. For some themes, there might not be such a publication, in which case strive to include a reference that provides at least some basic information and additional references to the topic. Ideally also include a reference to one or more works dealing with the broader history of the ATID in art. Before adding the bibliography, make sure you have carefully read our guidelines on the matter here and here.

Ex. 4

               <listBibl type="secondary">
                  <bibl>
                     <ptr target="bm:Mathews1991ArmenianIconography"></ptr>
                     <citedRange unit="pages">107b-109a</citedRange>
                  </bibl>
               </listBibl>

That is all, you are good to go!