Related Resources

The Topographical Bibliography of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic Texts, Paintings and Reliefs (TopBib) is supported by a vast body of working files and indexes developed over more than 120 years. These resources form the research foundation of the project and provide essential tools for the study of ancient Egyptian monuments and inscriptions.

Working Files (“The Appendix”)

Behind the published volumes lies an extensive archive of research material.

Over the course of its history, TopBib has systematically gathered and analysed information from an ever-expanding range of multilingual sources. These include specialist and general Egyptological publications, Near Eastern studies, periodicals, museum guides, exhibition and auction catalogues and significant online resources. In addition to published material, the project incorporates evidence from unpublished sources such as manuscripts, watercolours, drawings, photographs, rubbings and squeezes – many preserved in the Griffith Institute Archive and other collections.

An estimated one million additional units of information — including new bibliographic references, newly identified monuments, and supplementary data on known monuments — are maintained in a handwritten paper slip system. Arranged according to the order and page numbering of the published volumes, this system is traditionally known as the Appendix, but it remains the living core of the project.

Indexes

The TopBib indexes provide structured access to every monument cited in both the printed volumes and the Appendix.

• Royal Index (lists monuments associated with each king, arranged by object type)
• Private Name Index (records individual persons, their monuments, and cross-referenced genealogical information)
• Site and Deity Records (documents all sites and deities cited in the PM volumes)

Museum and Collection Lists

TopBib maintains dedicated lists for monuments cited in its volumes and now housed in:

• Major museums (including the widely consulted online list for the Egyptian Museum in Cairo)
• Private collections
• Dealers and auction houses
• Archival manuscript collections in the Griffith Institute and elsewhere

These lists provide an essential bridge between published scholarship and present object locations.

Bibliographic Indexes

Among the most substantial resources are the detailed files compiled for every book and periodical cited in TopBib.

• Arranged by author or title
• Bibliographic data aligned with full TopBib monument descriptions
• Periodicals analysed for the TopBib are fully digitised
• Selected resources from this group are available online via the Griffith Institute website

These tools allow researchers to trace monuments through the scholarly literature with precision and consistency.

A Living Research Resource

Together, these related resources reflect the depth, continuity, and scholarly rigour of the TopBib project. They document more than a century of sustained research and continue to expand, providing an evolving foundation for the study of ancient Egyptian texts, paintings, and reliefs.

Project Contributors and Editorial Process

The working files and indexes of the Topographical Bibliography of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic Texts, Statues, Stelae, Reliefs and Paintings were compiled at the Griffith Institute, University of Oxford, by successive generations of dedicated scholars.

Particular acknowledgement is due to:

• Dr Rosalind L. B. Moss
• Mrs Ethel W. Burney
• Dr Jaromir Malek

Their work established and shaped the research foundations upon which the project continues to build.

The development and maintenance of these resources have also depended upon the expertise and commitment of the TopBib support staff, including: Helen Murray, Vivien Raisman, Kay Lorimar, Diana Magee, Alison Hobby, Elizabeth Fleming, and Francisco Bosch-Puche.