MONOGRAM

(Yunanca köken — orijinale bakınız.) An abbreviation of a name by means of a cipher composed of two or more letters intertwined with each otii er. Monograms were used on coins in Very ancient times, being found on Greek medals of the age of Philip and Alexander of Maced on. The Greek monogram of the name of Christ, which resembles P placed perpendicularly in the middle of an X, thus ~y^, is found on coins of the age of Const an tine. By far the greater number of the ancient monograms are still unintelligible, though the labour and research which have been expended in endeavouring to decipher their meaning have in many instances been rewarded with succe . Among others whose researches on the ancient monograms may be consulted with advantage, are, Montfaucon, Palaographia Grttca; Froelich, Jhinal. Reg Syr.; Combe, Museum Hnnterianum; Torremuzza, Db script i on ties Monnaies de Sici'e; Pellerin, Recueit des Villes, des Peuples, et des Rois; Mionnet, Traits de la JVumit matique. Monograms are frequently found on coins and maps of the middle aces, and they are also to be met with ns a substitute for the signature of the princes of that period. This cla of monograms is of great iiii|>ortnnce in illustra ting the monuments of antiquity, and their investigation cot i stitutes a distinct and peculiar branch of diplomatics, lo later times, monograms were frequently employed by printers and engravers to record their names at the end or on the title-page of a book, or in some portion of an engraving. A great deal of attention has likewise been bestowed ti|>on this branch of mono gran una tic writing, and with considerably more succe . The Abbe de Mamllcs, in ltJiVT, was the first who directed attention to this subject; antl to him succeeded Florent Lecomte (Cabinet des Singularity d'.lrchitictim. ice.); Or land i (Abecedario Pit to rico); Fr. Chru't (Anzcige und Auslegung der Monotrnimmatum); De Virloy (Dictionnaire d'Architecture); and Bartsch (Pcintregraveur, a work of great accuracy and research). But the most complete and accurate information on this cla of monograms is to be found in the editio optima of Brulliot (Dictionnairc des Mono grammes, , arec lesquels les Peintres, 4tc, out di signe leurs Noms, 2 torn., 4(o, Munich, 1832; a work which is founded on the principle of considering the first letter ol the monogram as the key to its explanation. A monogram is laid to be perfect when it contains all the letters of the word it is intended to represent. (Diet, de la Conversation, <S-e.) MONOGR API! (Yunanca köken — orijinale bakınız.) A treatise or memoir on a single subject of a limited description. Such, for example, are the gretiter part of the memoirs which are read before learned societies. [s. 785]