Biographical information
Marilena Maniaci was born in Rome on June 25, 1965. She obtained a first-class honours degree in Literature (Greek Palaeography) at Rome’s Sapienza University, and went on to secure a Ph.D. in Palaeography at the same seat of learning. Since 2005, she has served as a Full Professor of Palaeography at the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, where she previously worked as a researcher (1998-2005).
At her university, Marilena Maniaci has occupied several key positions within the institution, including that of Head of the University Library System (2005-2007), Vice Rector for Research and Competitive Projects, with responsibility for the coordination of Ph.D. research, and Deputy Rector. She has presided over many commissions and working groups, addressing matters such as research, teaching and open access issues.
Since 2000, she has been part of the Literary and Historical Sciences in the Digital Age doctoral research teaching body (also its previous forms) at the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio.
Research activities
Marilena Maniaci’s research activities are chiefly focused on the history of materials and techniques used in the production of manuscript volumes, through the application of innovative methods and scientific description.
She is the author of five monographs (Terminologia del libro manoscritto, 1996; Costruzione e gestione della pagina nel manoscritto bizantino, 2002; Archeologia del manoscritto, 2002; La syntaxe du codex, 2013; Breve storia del libro manoscritto, 2019), and approximately 120 articles and contributions published in widely distributed books and journals; in addition, she has edited several collections of essays, in close collaboration with Italian and foreign scholars.
Professor Maniaci has participated (also in the capacity of coordinator) in numerous national and European research projects (including the ESF Research Networking Programme “Comparative Oriental Manuscript Studies” and two editions of PRIN, in 2004 and 2010/2011). She regularly collaborates with foreign universities and research bodies (e.g. the University of Hamburg, Cluster of Excellence “Understanding Written Artifacts”; PSL – Paris Science et Lettres; and the University of Jyväskylä, CNRS – IRHT).
She sits on the board of directors of some of the sector’s principal associations (e.g. «CIPL – Comité International de Paléographie Latine»; «APICES – Association Paléographique Internationale Culture Ecriture Société»; «AIPD – Associazione Italiana Manoscritti Datati; «AMDI – Associazione Manoscritti Datati d’Italia»; Società Internazionale di Storia della Miniatura»).
She is responsible for advanced training modules to promote knowledge about ancient library heritage and its beneficial use (e.g. master’s degrees, summer schools, advanced training courses). In addition, Marilena Maniaci contributes to the scientific editing and curation of a number of academic journals («Scrineum Rivista» [fascia A ANVUR], «COMSt Bulletin», «Gazette du livre médiéval», «Memorie Domenicane», «Fragmentology») and national and international scientific series (e.g. «Bibliologia – Brepols», «Spoudasmata – Georg-Olms Verlag», «Studi di archivistica, bibliografia, paleografia – Venezia, Università Ca’ Foscari», «Studi e ricerche del Dipartimento di Lettere e filosofia – Università di Cassino», «Encyclopedia of Manuscript Cultures of Asia and Africa – de Gruyter»).
A complete list of Professor Maniaci’s publications is available for consultation on the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio’s website:
(https://iris.unicas.it/cris/rp/rp00024?open=all&sort_byall=1&orderall=desc&rppall=20&etalall=-1&startall=0).
International experience
In 2010, Marilena Maniaci was an ESAJS (European Seminar on Advanced Jewish Studies) Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies (Trinity Term).
In 2014, she spent two months as a Petra Kappert Fellow at the Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures at the University of Hamburg.
In 2018, she spent two months as a Senior Research Fellow at the SFB 950 – Manuskriptkulturen in Asien, Afrika und Europa at the University of Hamburg.
In April 2018, she benefitted from an Erasmus+ Teaching Grant for lecturing and research activity at the University of Jyväskylä.
In January 2020, she served as a visiting professor at the Cluster of Excellence “Understanding Written Artifacts” at the University of Hamburg.
Professor Maniaci has participated as a contributor at many conventions and scientific seminars at national and international institutes (including Amsterdam, Arles, Bergamo, Bergen, Berlin, Bern, Cassino, Cesena, Vatican City – Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Codalet-Prades, Erice, Firenze, Frankfurt, Genève, Groningen, Hamburg, L’Aquila, Leeds, London, Madrid-Salamanca, Mantova, Mendoza, Milano, Nice, Oslo, Oxford, Palermo, Paris, Perugia, Pisa, Roma – Sapienza, Saint Louis [Michigan], Spoleto, Torino – Accademia delle Scienze, Tourtour – Fondation Les Treilles, Venezia, Viterbo, Wolfenbüttel, Yale).
She has promoted and participated in the conceptualisation and scientific coordination of more than twenty conventions and seminars held in Italy and overseas.
Additional activities, prizes and recognition
Marilena Maniaci is a member (serving as treasurer) of the Bureau of the Comité International de Paléographie Latine (2014-2025).
She acted as president of the international association known as APICES. Association Paléographique Internationale Culture Ecriture Société» (2013-2018).
She was an associate member of LAMOP – Laboratoire de Médiévistique Occidentale de Paris (UMR 8589).
She is an associate member of the Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures at the University of Hamburg and of the Cluster of Excellence “Understanding Written Artifacts” at the same university.
She was a member of the committee for the management and coordination of the Centre of Excellence “Distretto per le Tecnologie applicate ai Beni e alle Attività culturali– DTC Lazio” (2018-2010).
Experience in the area of assessing research
Professor Maniaci has wide experience in the area of assessing research at both national and international levels. Among the activities she has carried out, the following are of particular relevance:
Additionally, Professor Maniaci has evaluated candidacies, projects and publications for numerous international scientific institutions (e.g. Programma Rita Levi Montalcini; European Science Foudation; Isra; Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften; Facultés universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix Namur – FUNDP; Research Foundation Flanders – FWO; Fond de la Recherche Scientifique Belgique – F.R.S. – F.N.R.S.; Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research – NOW; Universität Hamburg – Cluster of Excellence «Understanding Written Artifacts»; Cost – European Cooperation in Science and Technology; Université Paris Science et Lettres; Union der deutschen Akademien der Wissenschaften; Fundación para el Conocimento – Madri+d; ANR Agence nationale de la Recherche, programme ESR/EquipEx+). On an ongoing basis, Marilena Maniaci regularly contributes to peer reviews of academic papers for inclusion in national and international scientific journals and publications.