The Machina Emblematica is a retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) system, an AI that combines vector-based search with natural language responses generated by a Large Language Model. It draws directly from the 1668 edition of Symbola et Emblemata, using scanned images provided by the Münchener Digitale Bibliothek, and transcriptions of the text.
Ask the machine anything you'd like to know about the Symbola – its contents, topics, imagery, sources, or symbolism. The machine will search the original work, find relevant passages, and reply in modern language. No need to be fluent in Latin or Greek. Though if you are, the machine will love the opportunity to converse in either!
The machine has been worn down by centuries of use. Don't trust everything it says. Its responses may contain errors, gaps, or wrong interpretations. Use it as a helpful guide, but stay skeptical and consult the original sources where needed.
Concept & Implementation
Michela Vignoli, AIT Austrian Institute of TechnologyUX Design
Rainer Simon, rainersimon.ioProject Management
Chiara Palladino, Furman University ClassicsScientific Support
Kathryn Wilson, Furman University ClassicsA project of scholarly curiosity, digital alchemy, and emblematic wonder. Made possible by open access resources and a love of the obscure. The project received funding from the BMBF joint project HERMES and the Furman Humanities Center.