«La Lettera e il Leone» investigates the epigraphic evidence produced during the Venetian rule in Cyprus (1474-1571), with an emphasis on the public sphere. Throughout the maritime empire of the Serenissima, the so-called scritture esposte (literally, displayed writing) played a crucial role in the Venetian authorities' agenda to convey political and ideological messages.
In Cyprus, monumental inscriptions were set in the 16th-century walls and fortifications of the island's main settlements, primarily Nicosia and Famagusta, as well as in public buildings, catholic churches, and monasteries. These inscriptions, written in Latin using the Humanistic capital script, were strategically located to showcase Venice's power and control over the island, as well as to emphasise its political identity.
Venetian epigraphy in Cyprus was not simply a means of recording historical events; it was a symbolic tool. Combined with the figure of the crowned lion of Saint Mark, it became a powerful emblem that sanctioned Venetian authority and clearly differentiated the rule of the Serenissima from that of the previous rulers of the island, belonging to the French-born crusader dynasty of the Lusignans, who used the Gothic capital for their communication. Through this symbolism, Venice aimed to strengthen its link with the classical past, ideally reconnecting with ancient Rome.
The project focuses on surveying, documenting, and digitally recording inscribed monuments using an integrated approach that considers the material, historical, political, and socio-cultural implications of epigraphic landscapes.
