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History vocabulary · Sources and Archives

Sigillography

Meaning in history, with examples

nounAdvanced term

In history, sigillography means: The study of seals, their impressions and their historical use.

In Turkish: sigilografi, mühür bilimi

How it is used

Study the seal together with its document and attachment; an impression alone may leave questions unresolved.

Example sentences

  1. Sigillography identified the official whose seal appears below the agreement.

    Seal designs and legends can identify an issuing authority.

  2. The seminar used sigillography to compare changing symbols of rulership.

    Seals communicate authority as well as help authenticate documents.

Common collocations

  • sigillographic evidence
  • a study in sigillography
  • primary sourceEvidence created at the time being studied or by people who witnessed it, such as letters, diaries, official records, photographs or objects.
  • inscriptionWords carved, cut or painted on stone, metal, a building or another hard surface, often to record a ruler's deeds, a law, a dedication or a burial.

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