The search function enables one to perform two types of searches:
1. Envoy search
2. Mission search

1. Envoy search
This function enables the user to search for the envoys using different parameters:

Envoy full name
This is an autocomplete field which enables the user to find envoys by inserting a complete name or strings of letters. Type some letters of the envoy’s name and choose from the resulting list the one you are looking for.

Envoy name
This is a field for free search. Type the envoy’s name (or some letters thereof) and the system will return all envoys of the same name (or whose name contains the typed letters).

Patronymic
This is a free search field. Type the name of the envoy’s father (or some letters thereof) and the system will return all envoys whose father has the typed name (or whose name contains the typed letters).

Place of origin
This is an autocomplete search field. Type some letters of the place of origin of an envoy (city, region or macro-region) and choose from the resulting list the place you are looking for. On the geographical subdivisions adopted, see info>help>Envoy’s ID and geographical framework.

Chronology
This allows users to perform searches based on a precise date or a selected time span. By selecting the box ‘Until’, a further string permits inserting the lower chronological limit. Please use only Arabic numbers.

Combined searches
This window permits combining more parameters to perform a more focused search.

By selecting ‘Clear’ one resets all fields. The already obtained results will not be cleared. They will disappear when one performs a new search.

2. Mission search
This window permits performing more complex searches based on diplomatic missions rather than on envoys.It is possible to perform searches either by using an individual string or by combining several options to achieve a more focused outcome.

Sender/recipient
This permits selecting the sender and/or the recipient of a mission, namely a city, a koinon (league), a king, a Roman official etc. When inserting a sequence of characters, the search engine automatically displays the names available in the database.

Envoys/Colleagues
This permits selecting from the list of all envoys one or more names, thereby allowing users to find diplomatic missions in which the selected envoys were involved.

Greek designation
This is an autocomplete search field. Type some letters of the word you are looking for and choose from the resulting list. For the system used for the transliteration of ancient Greek, see info>help>Transliteration of ancient Greek.
It permits selecting one or more words from a list of terms employed in the ancient sources to characterise envoys, thereby allowing users to find all diplomatic missions in which envoys labelled by those words were involved.

Mission date
This permits perfoming searches based on chronological order.

Honours
This permits selecting one or more phrases regarding the bestowal of honours upon envoys, so that one may investigate the distribution of specific honorific practices.

Lexicon
This permits performing searches based on ancient diplomatic terminology as employed in Greek and Roman sources, which is the same as that inserted and discussed in the website’s section Lexicon.

Keywords
This permits performing searches based on a preset list of English keywords concerning ancient diplomacy.