9. Associative Relationships and Other Links

Associative relationships within the Iconography Authority. The identification of any iconographic subjects that have important ties or connections to the iconographic subject being cataloged, excluding hierarchical whole/part relationships

• Examples:
  • First Shenandoah Valley Campaign (American Civil War, Historical Events)
  • Joseph (New Testament, Christian Iconography)
  • Hindu gods (Hindu Iconography)
  • Labors of Hercules (Story of Hercules, Greek heroic legends, Classical Mythology)

Values are controlled by linking to another record in the Iconography Authority.

The same authoritative sources that are appropriate for the rest of the record may be used.

Linking IA subject records through associative relationships is one of the most important features of the IA, making it powerful for research and discovery. Include entities that are related to each other, as characters, narratives to the actors in the narratives, themes in the narratives, characters to legendary places, entities manifested as another entity, and so on. The rich web of interconnections is critical to the IA’s usefulness.

• Examples:

  • The male deity of chaos and primordial darkness is linked to his female counterpart.
    IA Subject: Kek (Egyptian god) [IA_901002547]
    Relationship Type: counterpart is
    IA Subject: Kauket (Egyptian goddess) [IA_901002548]

  • A legendary tree is linked to the narrative in which it plays a role.
    IA Subject: Parijata Tree (Hindu legendary tree) [IA_901002547]
    Relationship Type: is actor for
    IA Subject: Krishna Uprooting the Parijata Tree (Hindu narratives…) [IA_901002555]

  • An event narrative is a predecessor of another event.
    IA Subject: Journey of the Magi (New Testament narrative) [IA_901000231]
    Relationship Type: predecessor of
    IA Subject: Adoration of the Magi (New Testament narrative) [IA_901000083]

Optional: Identify any subject related to the subject being cataloged where there is an important associative relationship. Associative relationships are to see also references, and exclude whole/part hierarchical relationships.

Link one IA subject to another IA subject when the relationship is direct and important, but not hierarchical.

Link only subjects for which the relationship is constant or usual. Do not link subjects that are only occasionally related in depictions.

Link subjects that may be confused with each other or have overlapping meaning as distinguished from or meaning/usage overlaps with or another appropriate relationship type.

Characters Linked to Barratives or Literary Works

For fictional characters, link them to records for the narrative or literary work to which they belong. For example, the magus Balthasar (Three Magi, Christian iconography) is linked to the narrative Adoration of the Magi (Christian iconography) as an actor.

Characters Linked to Each Other

If characters are related to each other, link them. For example, Oedipus (Greek and Roman characters) may be linked to his daughter, Antigone.

Narratives and Events Linked to Each Other

If two narratives or events are directly related to each other, but the relationship is not hierarchical, link them here through associative relationships.

Legendary Places Linked

If a legendary or fictional place is related to a narrative or character, link them.

Allegory and Symbolism Linked

If an allegory or symbolic subject is directly linked to a narrative, fictional place, or character, link them.

An indication of the type of relationship between the iconographic subject and another iconographic subject.

• Examples:
  • predecessor of
  • associated with

Values are controlled by an extensible list.

The same authoritative sources that are appropriate for the rest of the record may be used.

Relationship type explains and defines the relationship between the two IA records. The relationship is reciprocal; it appears in both linked records.

Required if applicable: If an associative relationship is added, it is required to record a Relationship Type. Record an appropriate value from the controlled list.

The list of relationship types is extensible and subject to frequent additions. As of this writing, the following are the IA to IA relationship types:

• 5000 | related to | 5000

• 5001 | formerly related to | 5001

• 5003 | associated with | 5003

• 5005 | creator of | 5006

• 5006 | creator is | 5005

• 5007 | author of | 5008

• 5008 | author is | 5007

• 5100 | distinguished from | 5100

• 5110 | meaning/usage overlaps with | 5110

• 5111 | has parallels with | 5111

• 5112 | opposite of | 5112

• 5113 | inspired by | 5114

• 5114 | is inspiration for | 5113

• 5115 | based on | 5116

• 5116 | is basis of | 5115

• 5117 | is identified as | 5117

• 5118 | personification of | 5119

• 5119 | personification is | 5118

• 5120 | representation of | 5121

• 5121 | represented as | 5120

• 5122 | allegory for | 5123

• 5123 | represented as allegory | 5122

• 5210 | focus of | 5211

• 5211 | has as focus | 5210

• 5250 | attribute of | 5251

• 5251 | has as attribute | 5250

• 5301 | manifestation of | 5302

• 5302 | has as manifestation | 5301

• 5303 | reincarnation of | 5304

• 5304 | reincarnated as | 5303

• 5305 | incarnation of | 5306

• 5306 | incarnated as | 5305

• 5307 | emanation of | 5308

• 5308 | source of emanation | 5307

• 5310 | predecessor of | 5311

• 5311 | successor of | 5310

• 5312 | aspect of | 5313

• 5313 | has as aspect | 5312

• 5314 | counterpart is | 5314

• 5410 |related event is | 5411

• 5411 | is related event for | 5410

• 5500 | actor is | 5501

• 5501 | is actor for | 5500

• 5502 | protagonist is | 5503

• 5503 | is protagonist for | 5502

• 5510 | relative of | 5510

• 5511 | ancestor of | 5512

• 5512 | descendant of | 5511

• 5513 | kinship with | 5513

• 5520 | consort/spouse of | 5520

• 5521 | lover of | 5521

• 5530 | child of | 5531

• 5531 | parent of | 5530

• 5532 | randparent of | 5533

• 5533 | grandchild of | 5532

• 5535 | sibling of | 5535

• 5540 | ruler is | 5541

• 5541 | has as ruler| 5540

• 5550 | companion of | 5550

• 5551 | partner of | 5551

• 5552 | member of | 5553

• 5553 | has as member | 5552

• 5554 | follower of | 5555

• 5555 | has as follower | 5554

• 5810 | location of | 5811

• 5811 | has as location | 5810

• 5812 | context of | 5813

• 5813 | has as context | 5812

• 5825 | topic is| 5826

• 5826 | has as topic | 5825

• 5835 | source is | 5836

• 5836 | is source for | 5835

Note containing additional information about the relationship.

Free text. Use Unicode characters and numbers.

The same authoritative sources that are appropriate for the rest of the record may be used.

The IA Relationship note may refer to dates of affiliation, conditional circumstances of affiliation, or other information about the relationship.

Optional: Record a relationship note as required.

Terms indexing information about the subject at hand, including roles or other AAT terms that characterize significant aspects of the iconographic subject.

• Example:
  • deity
  • warrior
  • freedom
  • Christmas (Christian holidays)

Values are controlled by a link to the AAT.

The same authoritative sources that are appropriate for the rest of the record may be used.

Linking IA subject records to the AAT is one of the most important features of the IA, making it powerful for research and discovery. Use AAT to index the role other characteristics of the subject, what it symbolizes, and other aspects of the subject to allow access.

• Examples:

  • Include a term that describes the basic role, culture, or other most important characteristics of the subject.
    IA Subject: Haumea (Hawaiian goddess) [IA_901002527]
    Relationship Type: role/characteristic is
    AAT concept: deity (people in religion…) [AAT_300343850]
    Relationship Type: deity of
    AAT concept: fertility (biological concepts…) [AAT_300379149]
    Relationship Type: culture/religion is
    AAT concept: Hawaiian (culture or style…)[AAT_300021955]

  • Characteristics of the subject and generic actors for a narrative.
    IA Subject: Bear’s Wife and Her Children (Amerindian narrative) [IA_901001783]
    Relationship Type: role/characteristic is
    AAT concept: legend (literary genre…) [AAT_300055923]
    Relationship Type: actor is
    AAT concept: bear (Carnivora, Mammalia…) [AAT_300266516]
    Relationship Type: culture/religion is
    AAT concept: indegenous people (American culture …) [AAT_300389818]

  • Characteristics of the subject and generic actors for a theme.
    IA Subject: Ages of Man (allegorical theme) [IA_901001111]
    Relationship Type: role/characteristic is
    AAT concept: allegory (artistic device …) [AAT_300055866]
    Relationship Type: actor is
    AAT concept: elderly (adults, …) [AAT_300025913]
    Relationship Type: actor is
    AAT concept: youth (…) [AAT_300025944]
    Relationship Type: actor is
    AAT concept: children (…) [AAT_300025945]

Optional: Optional but strongly recommended.

Link the IA subject to the AAT when the relationship is direct and important

Major Roles and Attributes

Record a term or terms that characterize the most role or significant characteristics of the subject.

Include all terms that refer to the following: physical characteristics (e.g., elephant), characteristic roles (e.g., savior, king ), major functions (e.g., castle), activities (e.g., farming), purpose (e.g., transport), political anatomy (e.g., duchy), symbolic significance (e.g., charity), or other major characteristics.

Omit Trivial Characteristics

Record terms only if they refer to the most significant or major characteristics of the subject, or otherwise are deemed critical for retrieval.

Do not try to describe the subject using these terms; use the Iconography Authority Descriptive Note to describe the iconographic subject.

Subject in General

Link subjects to AAT terms only where the relationship is constant or usual. Do not link to AAT terms that are only occasionally related in depictions of the subject.

Record generic terms that characterize significant aspects of the subject in general. These are not characteristics of only one particular depiction of the subject (which is recorded in depicted subject for the work); instead, they should be general characteristics that will aid retrieval of all works that portray a given subject, no matter what the particular depiction in any single given work.

Form of Term

If your system allows, link to the individual terms that most accurately indexes the subject: For singular iconographic subjects, link to the singular noun in the AAT.

An indication of the type of relationship between the iconographic subject and the generic concept (AAT term).

• Examples:
  • attribute is
  • culture/religion is

Values are controlled by an extensible controlled list.

The same authoritative sources that are appropriate for the rest of the record may be used.

Relationship type explains and defines the relationship between the IA subject record and the linked AAT term. The relationship appears only in the IA record, not in the AAT. However, in retrieval, the full set of AAT terms for the concept and all data links are available to retrieve IA subjects.

Required if applicable: If a link to the AAT is added, it is required to record a Relationship Type. Record an appropriate value from the controlled list

The list of relationship types is extensible and subject to frequent additions. As of this writing, the following are the IA to AAT relationship types:

6000 related to
6001 formerly related to
6010 role/characteristic is
6011 symbolic attribute is
6012 takes the form of
6100 distinguished from
6110 meaning/usage overlaps with
6210 affiliated/associated with
6301 culture/religion is
6302 nationality is
6304 language is
6311 is personification of
6315 literary work in
6317 topic is
6320 counterpart is
6325 actor is
6326 author is
6327 patron is
6328 deity of
6330 location is

Note containing additional information about the relationship.

Free text. Use Unicode characters and numbers.

The same authoritative sources that are appropriate for the rest of the record may be used.

The IA Relationship note may refer to dates of affiliation, conditional circumstances of affiliation, or other information about the relationship.

Optional: Record a relationship note as required.

An indication of a geographic place related to the iconographic subject at hand.

• Example:
  • Jerusalem (Yerushalayim district, Israel) (inhabited place)
  • Oe-yama (Kyoto prefecture, Kinki, Japan) (mountain)
  • Baetica (Roman Empire) (province)

Values are controlled by a link to TGN.

The same authoritative sources that are appropriate for the rest of the record may be used.

Linking IA subject records to the TGN is one of the most important features of the IA, making it powerful for research and discovery. In addition to the variant names and power of the links within TGN, TGN could be linked to a GIS, to allow the placement of subjects on maps. Make the link to TGN, and to the appropriate relationship type.

• Examples:

  • Described in the Popol Vuh as a court below the surface of the Earth, was believed by some to be at this real site.
    IA Subject: Xibalba (Maya legendary place) [IA_901000045]
    Relationship Type: located in
    TGN place: Cobán (Alta Verapaz, Guatemala) [TGN_1016644]

  • Linked to TGN for a deity of the Igbo people in southeastern Nigeria.
    IA Subject: Ikengo (Igbo deity) [IA_901002618]
    Relationship Type: flourished/active in
    TGN place: Nigeria (Africa) [TGN_901002618]

  • Linked to the place where the sacred tree associated with the story is located.
    IA Subject: Krishna Uprooting the Parijata Tree (Hindu narrative) [IA_901002554]
    Relationship Type: associated with
    TGN place: Kintoor (Uttar Pradesh, India) [TGN_9227091]

Optional: Make links between the iconographic subject and geographic places. Link only places that have a direct and important relationship to the iconographic subject.

Important Places

Link the IA subject to the TGN when the relationship is direct and important. For example, if a historical event or mythological narrative took place in a named location, link it to TGN.

Omit Trivial References

Record TGN names only if they refer to the most significant or major places related to the subject. Omit casual or minor references to places.

Form of Name

If your system allows, link to the current or historical name that most closely matches the reference in the subject.

An indication of the type of relationship between the iconographic subject and the place.

• Examples:
  • located in
  • born in
  • ruler of

Values are controlled by an extensible list, subject to frequent additions.

The same authoritative sources that are appropriate for the rest of the record may be used.

Relationship type explains and defines the relationship between the IA subject record and the linked TGN name. The relationship appears only in the IA record, not in the TGN. However, in retrieval, the full set of TGN names for the place and all data links are available to retrieve IA subjects.

Only to places that exist or have existed are within scope for TGN. For mythological places, make a record in the CONA Iconography Authority, and link to it via an associative relationship.

Required if applicable: If a link to the TGN is added, it is required to record a Relationship Type. Record an appropriate value from the controlled list.

The list of relationship types is extensible and subject to frequent additions. As of this writing, the following are the IA to TGN relationship types:

7000 related to
7001 formerly related to
7100 distinguished from
7101 associated with
7110 meaning/usage overlaps with
7111 identified as
7310 located in
7312 created in
7313 originated in
7314 published in
7315 patron/protector of
7320 born in
7321 died in
7350 flourished/active in
7360 ruler of
7361 actor is
7370 participant was
7371 belligerent was
7381 topic is
7385 is personification of

Note containing additional information about the relationship.

Free text. Use Unicode.

The same authoritative sources that are appropriate for the rest of the record may be used, including data from the repostory of the work.

The IA relationship note may refer to dates of affiliation, conditional circumstances of affiliation, or other information about the relationship.

Optional: Record a relationship note as required.

An identification of people or corporate bodies associated with the iconographic subject.

• Examples:
  • Washington, George (American president, 1732-1799)
  • Agrippa, Marcus Vipsanius (Roman general, ca. 63-12 BCE)

Values are controlled by a link to ULAN.

The same authoritative sources that are appropriate for the rest of the record may be used.

Linking IA subject records to the ULAN is one of the most important features of the IA, making it powerful for research and discovery. In addition to the variant names and power of the links within ULAN, ULAN has links to Library of Congress Autorities, VIAF, and other resources. For relationships to legendary, mythological, or religious characters who are not historical figures, link using the Associative Relationship to a record for the entity in IA, rather than using ULAN. Link to ULAN for all people or corporate bodies who are associated with the iconographic subject.

• Examples:

  • Character in Dante’s works is based on a real person.
    IA Subject: Beatrice (Italian literary character, Dante, ca. 1293) [IA_901001107]
    Relationship Type: identified as
    ULAN person: Portinari, Beatrice (Florentine noblewoman, 1266-1290) [ULAN_500371799]

  • Link to the writer of the literary subject.
    IA Subject: Visions du Chevalier Tondal (visionary tales, Aubert, 1475) [IA_901001663]
    Relationship Type: writer is
    ULAN person: Aubert, David (French writer, illuminator, active 1458-1479) [ULAN_500031958]

  • For an event, leader of the battle.
    IA Subject: Battle of Pavón (Argentine history, 1861) [IA_901002128]
    Relationship Type: actor is
    ULAN person: Mitre, Bartolomé (Argentine statesmen, 1821-1906) [ULAN_500371799]

Optional: Link only to people or groups of people (corporate bodies) who are directly related to the iconographic subject.

Important People

Link the IA subject to ULAN when the relationship is direct and important. For example, if a historical event had an important protagonist, link it to ULAN. If there is a relationship between a literary character in the IA and a real person in ULAN, such as between the protagonist Beatrice in Dante’s Divine Comedy and the real person Beatrice Portinari in ULAN, link them here.

Omit Trivial References

Record ULAN names only if they refer to the most significant or major actors related to the subject. Omit casual or minor references to people.

Form of Name

If your system allows, link to the ULAN individual name that most closely matches the reference in the subject.

An indication of the type of relationship between the iconographic subject and the person or corporate body.

• Examples:
  • protagonist is
  • ruler is
  • reincarnation of
  • identified as

Values are controlled by an extensible list, subject to frequent additions.

The same authoritative sources that are appropriate for the rest of the record may be used.

Relationship type explains and defines the relationship between the IA subject record and the linked ULAN name. The relationship appears only in the IA record, not in the ULAN. However, in retrieval, the full set of ULAN names for the person and all data links are available to retrieve IA subjects.

Only people who exist or have existed are within scope of ULAN. For mythological figures, and for ancient religious people who have actually existed, record them in the CONA Iconography Authority and link through associative relationships.

Optional: If a link to ULAN is added, it is required to record a Relationship Type. Record an appropriate value from the controlled list.

The list of relationship types is extensible and subject to frequent additions. As of this writing, the following are the IA to ULAN relationship types:

8000 related to
8001 formerly related to
8100 distinguished from
8110 meaning/usage overlaps with
8111 identified as
8112 reincarnation of
8113 reincarnated as
8310 actor is
8320 protagonist is
8325 topic is
8340 ruler is
8501 host is
8502 repository is
8511 author is
8512 patron is
8513 dedicatee is
8514 translator is
8515 scribe is
8516 librettist is
8517 adapter is
8518 writer is
8519 composer is (literature)
8521 composer is (music)
8525 choreographer is
8526 designer is
8527 creator is
8528 compiler is
8529 transmitter is
8531 affiliated/associated with

Note containing additional information about the relationship.

Free text. Use Unicode characters and numbers.

The same authoritative sources that are appropriate for the rest of the record may be used.

The IA relationship note may refer to dates of affiliation, conditional circumstances of affiliation, or other information about the relationship.

Optional: Record a relationship note as required.

Coming soon: Link from the IA to CONA, to record works of art and architecture that are included in an iconographical subject in IA.