Exploring the uBIQUity of Biblical Texts: Tradition and Innovation in the Ancient and Digital Worlds

The uBIQUity project operates at the intersection of Biblical studies and computer science to investigate the presence and reception of sacred texts (the Bible(s) and the Qurʾān) in ancient Christian and Islamic exegetical works. Reversing the usual perspective, the project shows how the philological rigor of Biblical studies offers a distinctive contribution to the field of digital humanities. The main goal is to develop an innovative semantic search engine capable of identifying intertextual references with a high degree of accuracy. Methodologically, uBIQUity combines token-based and language-aware techniques with state-of-the-art vector-semantic embedding models. A core innovation is the rigorous classification system, designed to quantify and qualify textual similarity, moving beyond the dichotomy between "quotation" and "allusion". This system incorporates textual granularity by meticulously analyzing variant readings found in the critical apparatus of the modern editions of the ancient biblical versions. Finally, the project employs user experience design principles to develop a flexible, node-based user interface (node-based UI) that aligns with the non-linear cognitive styles of humanistic scholars. uBIQUity is an example of transdisciplinary research that generates scientific innovation rooted in tradition.