Back to: Byzantine Studies Page | Byzantine Paleography Entrance Page

By abbreviations here are meant combinations of letters made for the sake of the meaning of a word or words rather than for the purpose of rapid writing. For those see the separate Greek Letter Combinations file. Not included here is any listing of "standard" abbreviations, when for instance the conclusion of a word is omitted, or prepositions are given by one or two letters.

Abbreviations could be made in a number of ways. The following tables present variations using the following methods:

• Superposition: placing of one or more letters are above others.
• Combination: intertwining letters with each other
• Suspension: omitting the end of a word.
• Contraction: omitting the middle part of a word. (Very common in nomina sacra)
• Symbols: using a symbol with no connection to usual letter forms.
• "Deformed letters"
  : using a variety of symbols, some from shorthand. Common at the end of words.

Two ore more of these methods might be used in one abbreviation.

Abbreviations: through suspension together with superposition or combination	Abbreviations: through contraction together with superposition, suspension or combination

Nomina Sacra: names or titles of sacred figures, usually through contraction	Symbols
Monograms: combinations and superpositions of letters to create distinctive name-symbols	Abbreviations: from deformation of letters or tachygraphy

Source: Bernhard Abraham van Groningen, Short Manual of Greek Palaeography, (Leiden: 1940)

The author and maintainer of this site is Paul Halsall. He can be contacted by email at halsall@murray.fordham.edu

Please do not hesitate to mail comments or suggestions.