arkuBiD, the archaeological and art-historical image database, offers lecturers and students a single platform for researching, managing and using digital image data. Based on the working processes of traditional slide libraries, arkuBiD is specifically tailored to the needs of classical archaeology, art history and Christian archaeology. The database currently comprises over 130,000 images across 24 categories, ranging from sculpture and vase painting to wall paintings and architectural photographs. Staff and students at the University of Graz can take full advantage of this collection and also continuously expand it by submitting their own image requests. The aim is to provide high-quality, legally compliant images for presentations, coursework and theses, as well as for teaching. Each image is accompanied by detailed metadata, including image credits, dating, dimensions, location and further information, enabling easy use for academic purposes.
Image searches in arkuBiD are usually carried out using simple search terms, which can be narrowed down by genre (such as ‘mural’ or ‘sculpture’) if required. It is also possible to search by work title and author to find images from particular publications, for example, when dealing with lesser-known subjects. Please note that the database sometimes uses different spellings (Heracles/Hercules, etc.). The results list displays preview images. To see brief details about the images, change the setting to „Liste“ using the blue button at the top right. Clicking on the preview opens the full record with a citable bibliographic reference, typically following the DAI (German Archaeological Institute) citation guidelines.
By adding images to your personal Leuchtpult (lightbox), you can collect them for later use, create themed collections for presentations or seminars, and download multiple images as a set. You can download individual images via the ‘Bild herunterladen’ button at the top right. If an image you need is not yet available in the database, you can request it using the integrated order form. You must provide as complete a description as possible, including the title, image credit, date, place of origin and location, as well as the inventory number, to ensure that the record can be used reliably for academic purposes in the future. Detailed step-by-step instructions in German for using the database are available at https://hilfe.arkubid.uni-bonn.de/.
The database is listed in uniKAT and DBIS. It is accessible to University of Graz staff and students from any location once they have registered using their University of Graz email address. Registration is required by the provider, and by registering, you agree to the provider’s terms of use. The University Library accepts no liability for the processing of your data by the provider.
Users must also comply with the University Library Graz terms of use.
Have you discovered our video tutorials on uniKAT, literature research and literature management? We also offer training courses during the semester. You can find more information under Support & Courses.
If you have any questions about this database, please contact ub.zeitschriften(at)uni-graz.at.