Data model

The data model of hucitlib’s knowledge base is based on the following ontologies:

1. CIDOC-CRM

2. FRBRoo

3. HuCit

In fact, the rationale for developing this data model was to re-use as much as possible already existing and widely adopted ontologies, and to extend them by means of new classes and properties only when absolutely necessary.

The first two ontologies that form the backbone of the HuCit knowledge base are CIDOC-CRM and FRBRoo. The CIDOC-CRM is a conceptual model that was born as a metadata standard for the archive and museum world, and proved to be suitable to represent information in many different domains. The subset of CIDOC-CRM classes and properties used by the knowledge base is limited to those that represent things like names, titles, and abbreviations for ancient authors and works. It is worth noting, however, that we try as much as possible to harmonise our use of CIDOC-CRM with the adoption of other essential standards, like the CTS protocol, that exist outside of the CRM world. For instance, we make extensive use of CTS URNs, which are declared as instances of CIDOC-CRM’s E42 Identifier having a specific E55 Type.

The third and last ontology involved is the Humanities Citation Ontology (HuCit). This ontology was developed as a lightweight extension of CIDOC-CRM and FRBRoo aimed specifically at formalising the canonical text structures that are used to cite classical texts. This ontology allows us to instantiate any single citable unit of a canonical text (e.g. all lines in all books of Homer’s Iliad), an ability of essential importance when representing canonical citations.