Introduction:
This manuscript, copied between the 1550s and 1560s,
is the first of a two-volume set of Greek literary texts with Cambridge, Christ's College, MS
Rouse 359. MS Rouse 358 contains the Iliad, the Odyssey, the Batrachomyomachia and hymns by
Homer.
According to the date appearing at the beginning of
sections and a statement at the end of the manuscript, the
manuscript was entirely copied by Carolus Stephanus in 1552. He
claims to have copied the manuscript for personal study; he may not
have completed it until some time after 1552. Little is known about
him: he served as librarian of Johann Jakob Fugger (1516-1575),
one of the most prolific book collectors of the 16th
century, and is known to have catalogued in 1565 the Greek and
Greek-Latin manuscripts of Fugger's collection, which later entered
the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek in Munich, where Stephanus'
autograph catalogue is kept: Munich, BSB, Cbm Cat. 48 (see also S. Kellner, A. Spethmann 1996, p. 514). Stephanus also
copied a Greek psalter, Karlsruhe, Badische Landesbibliothek, Codex 431.
Although MS 358 seems never to have been divided into
two volumes, the manuscript is conceived in two sections, called
"tomi" by the copyist, who starts new
pagination at the beginning of the second tome.
The manuscript was presented to Christ's College
Library by William Henry Denham Rouse, Fellow of the College from
1888 to 1894, Honorary Fellow from 1933 until his death, and
headmaster of the Perse School in Cambridge.
Dr Matteo Di Franco
Language(s): Greek and Latin
1. sect. 1, p. [ii]
Ravisius Textor, Joannes, approximately 1480-1524,
Officinae Epitome (extract)
Rubric:
sect. 1, p.
[ii] Docti viri habiti in magno pretio et
honore
Incipit:
sect. 1, p.
[ii] Quanti olim aestimatae sint bonae literae,
quantumque doctis sit concessum
Explicit:
sect. 1, p.
[ii] libros Homeri (quos tanto dignos loculo
existimabat) inclusit. Plin. lib. 7. cap. 29
cf. Mannheimer Texte Online
2. sect. 1, pp. [i]-679
Homer,
Iliad
Ilias
Rubric:
sect. 1, p.
[i] Homeri Ilias
Incipit:
sect. 1, p. 1 Μῆνιν ἄειδε
θεὰ Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος
Explicit:
sect. 1, p. 679 Ὣς οἵ
γ’ ἀμφίεπον τάφον Ἕκτορος ἱπποδάμοιο
Final rubric:
sect. 1, p. 679 Δόξα
τῶ ὑψίστῳ Θεῷ. Δόξα καὶ Χάρις τῶ πολυελέω θεῶ. Πᾶσα θεῶ τιμὴ, κῦδος
πᾶν, πᾶσά τε δόξα εἴη ἐν ὑψίστοις θῶκαν[sic] ἔχοντι δόμοις. Τῶ
δὲ θεῶ χάρις, τῶ πάντοτε θριαμβεύοντι ἡμᾶς ἐν τῶ Χριστῶ, καὶ τὴν
ὀσμὴν τῆς γνώσεως αὐτοῦ φανεροῦντι δι’ ἡμῶν ἐν παντὶ τόπω (cf.
2Co 2:14)
Hypotheses in Greek translated into Latin introduce each book:
- Book 1: pp.
[v]-25
- Book 2: pp.
26-64
- Book 3: pp.
65-85
- Book 4: pp.
87-110
- Book 5: pp.
111-149
- Book 6: pp.
151-174
- Book 7: pp.
175-195
- Book 8: pp.
196-220
- Book 9: pp.
221-251
- Book 10: pp.
252-276
- Book 11: pp.
277-312
- Book 12: pp.
313-334
- Book 13: pp.
335-370
- Book 14: pp.
371-392
- Book 15: pp.
393-424
- Book 16: pp.
425-460
- Book 17: pp.
461-492
- Book 18: pp.
492-518
- Book 19: pp.
519-537
- Book 20: pp.
537-559
- Book 21: pp.
559-585
- Book 22: pp.
585-607
- Book 23: pp.
608-644
- Book 24: pp.
645-679
TLG 0012.001, 5026.016
3. sect. 1, p. [680]
Antipater of Sidon, 2nd cent. BCE,
Epitaphs for Homer (Greek Anthology vii,
2-3)
Rubric:
sect. 1, p. [680]
Ἐπιτάφιον εἰς Ὅμηρον Ἀντιπάτρου Σιδωνίου
Incipit:
sect. 1, p. [680]
Τὰν μερόπων Πειθώ, τὸ μέγα στόμα, τὰν ἴσα Μούσαις
Explicit:
sect. 1, p. [680]
ἀνδρῶν ἡρώων κοσμήτορα θεῖον Ὅμηρον
TLG 7000.001
4. sect. 1, p. [680]
Palingenio Stellato, Marcello, approximately 1500-approximately
1543,
Zodiacus Vitae viii, 336-341 translated into
German
Rubric:
sect. 1, p.
[680] Marcellus Palingenius Stellatus
Incipit:
sect. 1, p.
[680] Gewis findt sich des Todes Plag, Kein Altten die
vermeiden mag
Explicit:
sect. 1, p.
[680] Ein grosser Mörschneckh also grimm, Zerthaylt die
hirnschalen im
On the death of Homer and Aeschylus; in all likelihood copied from
Johannes Spreng's revised translation of 1599, ff. 190v-r (cf. first edition 1564, ff. 172v-173r)
5. sect. 1, p. [681]
An account on Homer and his chronology
Rubric:
sect. 1, p.
[681] Corn⟨elius⟩ Nepos in libris
Chronicorum
Incipit:
sect. 1, p.
[681] Homerus poeta Graecus excellentissimus fuit ante
Romam conditam annis circiter 160
Explicit:
sect. 1, p.
[681] Annus captae et incensae urbis Troianae a
primordio mundi 2778
8. sect. 1, p. [683]
Macrobius, Ambrosius Aurelius Theodosius,
Saturnalia (5, 3, 16) (extracts)
Rubric:
sect. 1, p.
[683] Impossibilia factu, authore Macrobio liber 5
Saturnaliorum
Incipit:
sect. 1, p.
[683] Iovi fulmen vel Herculi clavam vel versum Homero
subtrahere
Explicit:
sect. 1, p.
[683] certare praeter Herculem robore, vel canere quod
cecinit Homerus
9. sect. 2, pp. [iii]-525
Homer,
Odyssey
Odyssea
Rubric:
sect. 2, p.
[iii] Homeri Odyssea
Incipit:
sect. 2, p. 1 Ἄνδρα μοι
ἔννεπε Μοῦσα πολύτροπον, ὃς μάλα πολλὰ
Explicit:
sect. 2, p. 525 Μέντορι
εἰδομένη ἠμὲν δέμας ἠδὲ καὶ αὐδήν
Final rubric:
sect. 2, p. 525
Τέλος τῆς Ὁμήρου Ὀδυσσείας. Δόξα τῶ θεῶ καὶ εὐχαριστία εἰς ἀϊδίους
χρόνους, οὕτως ἐστὶ καὶ ἔσεσται
Hypotheses in Greek translated into Latin introduce each book:
- Book 1: pp.
[iv]-19
- Book 2: pp.
19-38
- Book 3: pp.
38-59
- Book 4: pp.
60-95
- Book 5: pp.
96-117
- Book 6: pp.
118-132
- Book 7: pp.
133-148
- Book 8: pp.
148-173
- Book 9: pp.
173-197
- Book 10: pp.
198-222
- Book 11: pp.
223-249
- Book 12: pp.
250-269
- Book 13: pp.
269-288
- Book 14: pp.
288-311
- Book 15: pp.
311-335
- Book 16: pp.
335-356
- Book 17: pp.
356-382
- Book 18: pp.
382-400
- Book 19: pp.
401-426
- Book 20: pp.
426-443
- Book 21: pp.
444-463
- Book 22: pp.
463-485
- Book 23: pp.
485-501
- Book 24: pp.
502-525
TLG 0012.002, 5026.007
10. sect. 2, p. 526-527
On the Life and Poetry of Homer (1, 5) with
translation into Latin (extracts)
Rubric:
sect. 2, p. 526
Πλούταρχος
Incipit:
sect. 2, p. 526 Ὅμηρος
ἔγραψε ποιήματα δύο, Ἰλιάδα καὶ Ὀδύσσειαν, ὡς δέ τίνες οὐκ ἀληθῶς
λέγοντες, γυμνασίας καὶ παιδείας ἕνεκα, καὶ Βατραχομυομαχίαν προσθεὶς
καὶ μαργίτην
Explicit:
sect. 2, p.
527 Homerus duo poemata scripsit, Iliada et Odysseam.
Nam qui tradunt enim bellum Ranarum et murium et Margitem, exercitii
et lusus gratia conscripsisse falluntur
TLG 1805.011
attributed to
Plutarch
11. sect. 2, p. 529-540
Battle of Frogs and Mice
Batrachomyomachia
Rubric:
sect. 2, p.
528 Homeri Batrachomyomachia
Incipit:
sect. 2, p. 529
Ἀρχόμενος πρώτον μουσῶν χορὸν ἐξ Ἑλικῶνος
Explicit:
sect. 2, p. 540 καὶ
πολέμου τελετὴ μονοήμερος ἐξετελέσθη
Final rubric:
sect. 2, p. 540
τέλος τῆς Ὁμήρου Βατραχομυομαχία
A brief note in Latin on the cause of the Battle on sect. 2, p. 541
TLG 1220.001
attributed to
Homer
12. sect. 2, p. 543-617
Homeric Hymns
Hymni Homerici
Rubric:
sect. 2, p. 543 Ὁμήρου
ὕμνοι
Incipit:
sect. 2, p. 543 Μνήσομαι
οὐδὲ λάθωμαι Ἀπόλλωνος ἑκάτοιο
Explicit:
sect. 2, p. 617 Ἕβρου
καλὰ ῥέοντος, ὃν ἀθάνατος τέκετο Ζεύς
Final rubric:
sect. 2, p. 617
τέλος τῶν τοῦ Ὁμήρου ὕμνων, καὶ τῶν σωζομένων
ποιημάτων
- To Apollo: pp.
543-564
(TLG 0013.003)
- To Hermes: pp.
564-587
(TLG 0013.004)
- To Aphrodite: pp.
587-599
(TLG 0013.005)
- To Aphrodite: pp.
599-600
(TLG 0013.006)
- To Dionysus: pp.
600-603
(TLG 0013.007)
- To Ares: p. 603
(TLG 0013.008)
- To Artemis: pp.
603-604
(TLG 0013.009)
- To Aphrodite: p.
604
(TLG 0013.010)
- To Athena: p. 604
(TLG 0013.011)
- To Hera: pp.
604-605
(TLG 0013.012)
- To Demeter: p.
605
(TLG 0013.013)
- To the Mother of the Gods: p. 605
(TLG 0013.014)
- To Heracles the Lionheart: pp. 605-606
(TLG 0013.015)
- To Asclepius: p.
606
(TLG 0013.016)
- To the Dioscuri: p.
606
(TLG 0013.017)
- To Hermes: pp.
606-607
(TLG 0013.018)
- To Pan: pp. 607-609
(TLG 0013.019)
- To Hephaestus: p.
609
(TLG 0013.020)
- To Apollo: pp.
609-610
(TLG 0013.021)
- To Poseidon: p. 610
(TLG 0013.022)
- To Zeus: p. 610
(TLG 0013.023)
- To Hestia: p. 610
(TLG 0013.024)
- To the Muses and Apollo: pp. 610-611
(TLG 0013.025)
- To Dionysus: p. 611
(TLG 0013.026)
- To Artemis: pp.
611-612
(TLG 0013.027)
- To Athena: pp.
612-613
(TLG 0013.028)
- To Hestia: pp.
613-614
(TLG 0013.029)
- To Earth Mother of All: pp.
614-615
(TLG 0013.030)
- To Helios: p. 615
(TLG 0013.031)
- To Selene: p. 616
(TLG 0013.032)
- To the Dioscuri: pp.
616-617
(TLG 0013.033)
- Εἰς Ξένους: p. 617
(TLG 0013.034)
attributed to
Homer
12. sect. 2, p. [618]
Stephanus, Carolus,
Statement by the copyist
Incipit:
sect. 2, p.
[618] Ego Carolus Stephanus, artium liberalium magister,
sacra imperiali \auctoritate/ publicus approbatus
Explicit:
sect. 2, p.
[618] prudentum reprehensione, uti spero,
pertractavi
Final rubric: Δόξα τῶ θεῶ πατρὶ τε, καὶ υἱῶ, ἁγίω τέ πνεύματι ἐς
τοὺς τῶν αἰῶνων αἰῶνας, ἀμὴν. ͵αφνβ 1552
Form: codex
Support:
pp. sect. 1, p. [i] -
sect. 2, p. [619] Western paper, in folio. Watermarks:
Letter
K (
26 × 26 mm.
) middle of
the folio, between chainlines comparable to
Briquet, Lettre K 8263
. The
majority of those examples are dated to between 1550s
and 1560s.
Greek cross in a
circle on three mounts with four circles
(
35 × 35 mm.
) middle of
the folio, on a chainlines comparable to
Piccard, 16-10-2896
. The
majority of those examples are dated to
1560s.
Unidentified
(geometric figures within a circle
(
40 × 40 mm.
) middle of
the folio, on a chainlines.
Sect. 1, p.
[iii-iv] thick parchment, added for painting.
Extent:
Codex:
vi + 656 + i leaves.,
305 × 205 mm.
Foliation: sect. 1: pp. [i-vi] + 1-679 +
[680-688]; sect. 2: pp. [i-iv] + 1-617 + [618-622]. Original
pagination in ink in Arabic numerals on external upper corner.
It starts from the first page of the text of each
tome.
Collation
The manuscript consists of 65 quires (sect, 1: quires 1-34;
sect. 2: quires 35-65):
- Quire 110+1
pp.
[i]-16
- Quires 2-3310
pp.
17-656
- Quire 3416
pp.
657-[688]
- Quires 35-4510
pp.
[i]-216
- Quire 4612
pp.
217-240
- Quires 47-6410
pp.
241-600
- Quire 6510+1
pp.
601-[620]
Original horizontal catchwords on every page with
text, on right-hand corner.
Original quire signatures in brown ink
in Latin letters, on the first folio of each quire, recto,
bottom left. Sequence restarts in sect. 2. Sect. 1: A
(p. [v]) - I,
K-T, V, X-Z, AA-II, KK-LL. Sect. 2: B (p. 17) - E (F coverd by glued
decoration), G-I, K-T, V-Z, AA-GG.
Condition
In fair condition.
Layout
230 × 130 mm.
25 lines per page
Hand(s)
The manuscript is entirely written by
Carolus Stephanus
in mixed
minuscule, characterized by marked contrast between
thick and thin strokes, the cursive style and the large size of
capital letters.
Decoration
A portrait of Homer with a swan on sect. 1, p. [iii].
Numerous stencilled ornaments placed to fill in
empty spaces at the end of books or to separate hypotheses from
books, e.g.: sect. 1, pp. 64,
65, 86, 87.
Oval printed frames have been glued on the pages
that serve as frontispieces of the two tomes (sect. 1, p. [i]; sect. 2, p. [iii]) and the first pages of
the Batrachomyomachia (sect. 2, p.
520). Other rectilinear frames have been glued around
the Latin translations of the hypotheses to the books of the Iliad
(e.g. sect. 1, p. [vi]) and
the Odyssey (e.g. sect. 2, p.
[iv]).
Binding
Light brown parchment over paste-laminate boards. The thongs are
laced through the parchment joints and pasted onto the inner
side of the boards. There are four slits through each board that
were for fastenings. Some slits and punched holes are present on
the cover that might indicate reuse of the parchment. Lettering
on the left board and the spine with titles of contents.
Sprinkled red and blue on the edges.
318 × 218 × 100 mm.
Origin: The manuscript was copied by Carolus Stephanus in 1552, in all likelihood
in ; Augsburg (Germany). Some texts seem
to have been added by Carolus Stephanus many years later, as suggested
by the presence of the German text on sect. 1, p. [680], which corresponds to the 1599 revision
of the 1564 translation.
