Wikibase for Epigraphy: The Instance Greek Metrical Inscriptions
Creators: name: Ortimini, Pietro
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: digital epigraphy
linked open data
Wikibase
Wikidata
FAIR principles
epigraphy
metrical inscriptions

description: Introduction

The Wikibase instance Greek Metrical Inscriptions was created in April 2024 with the aim of providing a collaborative space for modelling, analysing, and making Linked Open Data on Greek metrical inscriptions reusable. The Wikibase instance also aims to contribute to the creation of a common data model for epigraphy to be used in Wikidata and individual Wikibase instances, as consistent as possible with the principles of the FAIR Epigraphy Project (Heřmánková, Horster and Prag 2022; other epigraphy-related projects in Wikidata are Altinum [Maniero Azzolini 2024], IDEA [Thornton, Seals Nutt and Chen 2024], WikiProject Epigraphy; on the use of Wikidata in Digital Humanities, see Zhao 2023).

The database consists of a Wikibase Cloud instance, open source software developed by Wikimedia Deutschland as an extension of MediaWiki, together with Wikidata and Wikibase Suite (see Wikidata:Development plan). A Wikibase Cloud instance appears to be a potentially effective tool for the sustainable creation and maintenance of FAIR Linked Open Data related to epigraphy (see Tupman 2021; Orlandi 2021, 6-7; Middle 2024; in the field of Classics, other Wikibase instances are Hypotheseis and Datalib).

Data model

Each inscription and its associated metadata are provided with a stable URI and linked with PIDs; properties and items are identified by an alphanumeric identifier consisting of P+number and Q+number respectively. It is possible to establish a data model based on a detailed set of guidelines published on a special page of the Wikibase instance (see Data model); the data model can be discussed by users on the Discussion page. The ontology is based on controlled vocabularies (FAIR epigraphic vocabularies, Opentheso – Poésie épigraphique, EAGLE vocabularies; see at least Liuzzo 2015; Cenati et al. 2021; Liuzzo and Evangelisti 2021; Heřmánková, Asif, Prag and Horster 2024).

The data model is highly flexible, as it allows for freely creating properties to which values can be assigned as statements to model data. The order of the statements in each item is defined through the page Wikibase-SortedProperties. The flexibility of the software enables multiple values to be associated with a property on the same item, with the possibility of  ranking the values assigned to the same property. Properties can be used as qualifiers to specify data or as references to indicate the source of the information. The use of EntitySchemas allows the data structure to be validated and data quality to be maintained.

Data entry 

Data can be entered through the functions New Property/New Item and modelled by manually adding labels, descriptions, aliases, and statements by associating properties and values. Mass data entry can be performed using QuickStatements, which allows properties and values to be entered into the Wikibase instance in CSV format. In addition, OpenRefine can be connected to the Wikibase instance or bots can be programmed in Python using the Pywikibot library. EntitySchemas can also be used to enter data via Cradle. One limitation is the current inability to enter the text of the inscription in EpiDoc. Therefore, this Wikibase instance only provides links to existing digital editions. A possible solution could be to link to EpiDoc files from an external repository, such as GitHub, Zenodo or Wikimedia Commons.

Data analysis and reuse

The SPARQL endpoint enables the analysis and reuse of data (see Query – access to data); the queried data can be exported in various formats (CSV, TSV, JSON). By interlinking the entities, it is possible to perform federated queries with Wikidata and other Wikibase instances. In addition to SPARQL queries, data can be retrieved via the special page Entity Data (json, php, n3, ttl, nt, rdf, jsonld, html)  and the Wikimedia Action API (json,  php, xml) / Rest API. A Wikibase instance allows users to choose the license under which the data are released.

Collaborative and educational space

The intuitive and user-friendly interface facilitates collaboration even for those who do not initially have specific technical knowledge of how to use a Wikibase instance. It is also possible to track user contributions on the Contributions page and in the page histories. It is thus easy to reconstruct the evolution of pages and check the quality of the data entered. In addition, administrators can choose who is granted access to contribute to the Wikibase instance, thus preventing intervention by those who do not have the specialist knowledge required to enter data and edit pages.

The Wikibase instance is open to collaboration from people with different levels and types of expertise. In fact, it is possible to carry out activities of different types and levels of difficulty (see Collaboration Space): completing existing data, entering new data, writing queries, modifying and implementing existing queries, discussing the data model, and enhancing the multilingualism of the Wikibase instance by translating pages and adding data in different languages. 

For these reasons, the Wikibase instance can also be used for educational purposes to develop skills and competences in the field of digital epigraphy. By using the tools offered by the Wikibase instance in conjunction with the other digital resources related to epigraphy, knowledge and skills can be developed for collecting, modelling, and analysing Linked Open Data related to metrical inscriptions. The activities can also deepen the understanding of the main existing digital resources for the study of epigraphy such as databases, digital editions, controlled vocabularies (the Wikibase instance has been used for educational purposes as part of an internship by a first year Master’s student in Classics at the Laboratoire HiSoMa, Lyon).

All the links cited were accessed on 31/03/2025