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Help for the use of Athos Digital Heritage Repository

The Repository was created and supported by the Athos Digital Heritage Project, with specifications that comply with international standards and best practices. The purpose of the Repository is to collect, manage, disseminate and preserve the cultural and religious heritage of Mount Athos.

The objects contained in the Repository are derived exclusively from the Monasteries participating in the project “Athos Digital Heritage”. Users may explore the Repository with the following ways:

Α. Browsing Collections
Β. Browsing in Time
C. Simple Search
D. Advanced Search

Α. Browsing Collections

ΤThe material contained in the Repository is organized in collections. By browsing the collections the user can navigate and explore 15 different thematic categories.

When a collection is selected, the objects and the total amount of the results appear. There are 20 items per page of results, each with its title and thumbnail. To facilitate browsing, at the right-hand side of the screen there are two boxes, known as facets, that organize the results in sub-categories (type) or material of construction.

By choosing a value from a facet we navigate to the relevant, with this value, results. The facets are updated after each selection, so that the user may further particularize the list of the results.

In the example below from the collection “Portable Icons” we select “Icon of architrave altarpiece”. The results are reduced from 6.876 to 350. Furthermore, the facet is updated for further particularization of the material.

You may change the amount of the displayed results, the classification criteria, as well as the classification of the results.

By choosing an item from the list the user has access to its description, its full metadata and an image in high resolution. Each item bears a unique identification number (handle) that renders it accessible through the link for sharing.

Β. Browsing in Time

By choosing the option “Browse in Time” the content is classified and displayed by century. The user may choose among collections from 11th to 20th century.

Each item, as above, has its metadata, thumbnail and high resolution image.

C. Simple Search

To search items of your interest, you may use the search bar at the top of the screen. For your search use keywords based on the subject of your interest. Words in Greek can be written with or without accent marks, block or small letters. If you provide more than one word, the search engine will return results of items, the metadata of which match with your search (full text retrieval). The amount of results increases depending on the amount of the words used. However, the items appearing high on the result list are the most relevant to your search. You may facilitate your search by using the search engine as follows:

Cut

To retrieve all the words with a common route you can use the asterisk *. *. Searching, for example: Θεοτόκ* The search engine returns results from the words: Θεοτόκος, Θεοτόκου, Θεοτόκε

Obligatory word search

If you are searching more than one words, then in each word you add a το + Searching, for example Άγιος Γεώργιος the results are 12.373. In case you definitely want in your search results the word Άγιος, then search for +Άγιος Γεώργιος The results will be reduced to 7.058. In case you definitely want in your search results the word Γεώργιος, then search for +Άγιος +Γεώργιος You may combine the asterisk and the plus symbol. For example, the search +Θεοτοκ* demands from the search engine to return results that definitely contain a word that begins with Θεοτοκ.

Phrase Search

To search for a phrase you may use quotation marks (“ ”). Where this is not the case, the search engine will understand that there is a disjunctive (or) and will return results for both of the words. Searching, for example “Άγιος Ιωάννης”* The results will be for that particular Saint. Without the quotation marks, the search engine will return results regarding Ιωάννης or Άγιος. The quotation marks cannot be combined with other symbols.

D. Advanced Search

In the advanced search you may add limitation to the fields and the way that the search is performed. The advanced search is divided in two modes: the collections and the additional filters.

Collection limitations

You can limit your search in one of the 15 collections, by choosing the collection you wish from the list next to the search bar. The search is effected by pressing “Go”.

Filters

Even if you have provided a word for search, you can, at the zone below, add extra filters to further specify your search. From the first selection list you can choose the metadata field of your interest, e.g. Description, Material, Language etc. At the second list you can choose the suitable operator (Equals, Contains, Not Equals, Not Contains, Less or Equal, Greater or Equal). Once you add the keyword, press the button “Add” to begin your search. The results of your search appear and, at the same time, a new series of filters is added. You can add as many filters as you like. Filters are combined with “and”, so that the results are limited as long as you add new filters. If you change the value to an already added filter, you must press “Go” again, in order to update the results.

For example:
Search: All the repository
Artist -> Contains -> Γρηγόριος -> Add
The search returns 1866 items from various collections, where the field “Artist” contains the name Γρηγόριος.

While searching for:
Artist -> Equals -> Γρηγόριος -> Add
The search returns only 17 results, where the field “Artist” contains only the word Γρηγόριος.
Choosing “New Search” clears the form and you may begin a new search.

Time Search

There are search fields with which you can create filters. These are “Date from” and “Date to”. Because the field “Date to” is empty when the date of the creation of an item is known, on the contrary the field “Date from” is filled, you can create filters using the field “Date from”. The suitable operators are “Equals”, “Less or Equal”, “Greater or Equal”.

For example:
Searching with filter
Date from -> Greater or Equal -> 1850
The search will return results items with Theotokos that were made from 1850 and after.

You can create more than one filters for a time search.
For example, if you want to find items that were made from 1350 to 1450, the filters will be:
“Date from” “Greater or Equal” 1350
“Date from” “Less or Equal” 1450

The results may contain items that are not precisely dated, therefore the field “Date to” may contain a date post to 1450. To exclude such items from your results, you should add the filter “Date to” “Less or Equal” 1450. In this case, however, you will exclude items that are precisely dated.

People with Disabilities Support

For people with disabilities there are special functions for zooming in and zooming out, by pressing the wheelchair button at the bottom left of the screen. This button is to be found at every page of the Repository.