Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries

A catalogue of Western manuscripts and papyri at Cambridge University Library, the Fitzwilliam Museum and selected Cambridge colleges

Cambridge, Fitzwilliam Museum, MS 229

Diktyon no.: Diktyon 11852

Contents

Introduction: This manuscript is a composite of components produced separately by various copyists at dates ranging from the mid-14th to early 15th century, containing works of Demosthenes and other rhetorical and miscellaneous texts. The bulk of the manuscript is composed of orations by the 4th-century BCE Athenian orator Demosthenes, and there are various prefaces, scholia and excerpts of commentary on his works by authors including the 4th-century CE rhetorician Libanios, as well as other brief texts and excerpts on rhetoric. Besides its rhetorical content, the manuscript contains a wide range of other short texts, including letters, formulae for letters and for legal procedures, primarily regarding divorce, calendrical tables, medical and magical remedies, and religious texts, among them an anathema pronounced against the defeated side in the 14th-century controversy over the meditative practice of Hesychasm and the related theological views of Gregory Palamas. The manuscript retains a binding in the Greek style, which may well be the original one from the time when its various components were first bound together into a single volume. Dr Christopher Wright

Language(s): Greek

Physical Description

Form: codex
Extent: Codex: 333 leaves. 223 × 150 mm.
Foliation: The manuscript is paginated with the numbers [1-2], 3-50, 50b, [50c], 51-339, [340], [340a-340b], 341-399, [400], [400a-400b], 401-444, 446-656, [657-658], in Arabic numerals, in black ink, recto, upper right.

Collation

Part I consists of one quire (Quire 1), Part II of seven (Quires 2-8), Part III of thirty (Quires 9-38) and Part IV of four (Quires 39-42): 1-38, 48-1, 5-78, 86, 910-1, 10-238, 244, 25-388, 3910, 408, 416, 4212-2.

Condition

Most of pp. 1-2 has been torn away. There is significant pest damage in places (e.g. pp. 311-346, 369-440, 535-574) and significant losses from the edges of pp. 365-382, 119-122 and 653-658, at least some of which are due to pest damage, while such damage in the gutter has left pp. 629-658 loosely attached. There is some wear and tear to edges elsewhere. Damage to the edges of some other folios has been repaired with Japanese paper. There are occasional small holes from other causes. There is water staining, which has caused softening of some folios, mould staining and areas of dirt.

Binding

Late medieval Greek binding, with the textblock cut level to the edges of the bookboards.

There are four sewing stations prepared with V-notches.

The sewing is an unsupported loop-stitch.

Greek-style endbands with a natural coloured thread. The endbands extend approximately one quarter of the way onto the boards. Where they extend onto each board they are tied down to two holes that extend through the board from the inner face to the outer face.

The headband holds page-markers made of thread closed between pp. 190 and 191, and between pp. 278 and 279. The former holds one natural coloured thread, the latter two threads, one natural coloured and one yellow.

There is a transverse continuous spine lining.

No endleaves are present.

The board attachment is bridling.

The boards are wooden, with grooved edges, shaped to a gentle cushion at the outer spine edge. The left board seems to have been reused, as indicated by the presence of multiple unused lacing holes.

Full brown leather covering, decorated with blind tooling on both boards. Around the left board there are two borders, the outer containing medallions with animal designs and the inner containing interlace ornament. Within these borders is a diamond pattern formed by intersecting double fillets, with circles where the lines intersect. In the spaces between the lines of this pattern are medallions containing winged beasts. Around the right board is a single border containing small circles and medallions with winged beasts. Within the border is a diamond design formed by intersecting double fillets, with circles where the lines intersect. In the spaces between the lines of this pattern are medallions containing winged beasts, smaller medallions containing animals, small circles and almond shapes.

Four sets of three holes through the right board are evidence of previous straps. There are four holes in the edges of the left board where catches for the straps would have been located.

There are nine holes in each board, with indentations around them indicating the former presence on each of nine small circular bosses. Two of these holes in the left board and two of those in the right board retain metal pins.

237 × 152 × 90 mm.

There is pest damage to both boards, substantial to the left board. The leather cover is fragile and damage to the cover at the head and tail of the spine has been repaired with leather patches. There is a small split in the left outer joint.

Accompanying Material

Parchment manuscript waste with Greek text has been used to form a wrapper around Quire 14 (pp. 201-216).

A note on the origins and content of the manuscript is pasted inside the left board.

Small fragments of paper from the manuscript are housed along with it.

History

Provenance and Acquisition

Given to the Fitzwilliam Museum by the Rev R. E. Kerrich in 1879.

Part 1 [Cambridge, Fitzwilliam Museum, MS 229, pp. 1-14]

Contents

Language(s): Greek

1. pp. 3-7, line 20
Basil Pediadites, Dialogue

Defective at the beginning

Incipit: || p. 3 εικέμενοι νοσεῖν, καὶ κατὰ τοὺς ὑδροωπι[..]ας τὴν γαστέρα πεφύσσηται
2. p. 7, line 20-p. 9, line 21
Basil Pediadites, Letter
Rubric: p. 7 Τοῦ αὐτοῦ ἐπιστολὴ, ἔχουσα καὶ ἔκφρασιν ἁλώσεως ἀκανθέδων
Incipit: p. 7 Αἰχμαλώτους σοι, τούτους πέμπτω στρουθοὺς
3. p. 9, line 22-p. 10, line 30
Basil Pediadites, Letter to Konstantinos Stilbes
Rubric: p. 9 Τοῦ αὐτοῦ ἐπιστολὴ πρὸς τὸν διδάσκαλον κύριον Κωνσταντίνον τὸν Στιλβὴν+ ἀρχιερατεύσαντος, τοῦ Πεδιαδίτου, ὅτε ταύτην ἔπεμψε πρὸς αὐτὸν Στίλβην
Incipit: p. 9 Τιμιώτατε πάντων ἐμοὶ δέσποτα· δεύτερον τοῦτο ἤδη, τὸν ζωηφόρον ὁ ἥλιος διεμέτρησεν

Ed. Spyridon Lampros, Κερκυραϊκὰ ἀνέκδοτα (Athens 1882), pp. 42-49

4. p. 10, line 31-p. 13, line 17
Ioannes Mauropous (c. 990-c. 1092), Epistulae

Letters 1, 6, 2

TLG 2709.001

5. p. 13, line 17-p. 14
Ioannes of Nomikopolis, Letter
Rubric: p. 13 Ἐπιστολὴ τοῦ τοῦ Νομικοπόλεως κυρίου Ἰωάννου ἔχουσα ἔκφρασιν, Αἰθίοπος καὶ ἴππου,[sic] πάνυ ταλαιπορημένου, ἐν ὧ ἐπωχεῖτο ὁ Αἰθίοψ
Incipit: p. 13 Ἰδοὺ δεύτερον γράμμα, ἀναλεὸν πάντη καὶ λιβάδος ἑρμαϊκῆς ἀμοιροῦν

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: pp. 1-14 Western paper, folded in quarto. Watermark: Bell ( c. 60 × 43 mm. ) in the gutter, , similar to Briquet 4033-4034. These examples are dated to 1387-1413.

Collation

This part consists of a single quire, a quaternion.

  • Quire 18-1 pp. 1-14 The first folio has been lost, with loss of text.

Layout

pp. 1-14 A single column of 29-39 lines. 169-177 × 100-105 mm.

Hand(s)

p. 1-14 were copied by Hand A in mixed minuscule script, slanting slightly to the right, in brown ink, with moderate variation in letter size.

Syllabic abbreviations and superscript word endings appear throughout the line. Breathings are round and mute iota is absent. There is decorative use of the double dot. Accents are sometimes joined to letters, breathings and abbreviations.

The modern modern nu and sigma telikon are present.

Punctuation used includes the middle and upper points, lower and middle commas, question mark, full stop and a two-dot colon used as a strong normal punctuation mark.

Decoration

Sections begin with minor initials in red ink.

History

Origin: This part was probably copied in the last quarter of the 14th century or first quarter of the 15th, as indicated by the watermarks. This is consistent with the style of script.

Part 2 [Cambridge, Fitzwilliam Museum, MS 229, pp. 15-118]

Contents

Language(s): Greek

6. pp. 15-46
Libanios (314-393), Orationes

Oration 62

Defective at the end: ends ed. Foerster, section 38, line 5

Explicit: τοὺς ἡμῖν ἐχθρῶς ἔχοντας, φθόνω τοῦτο||

TLG 2200.004

7. pp. 47-50, line 17
Commentarii in librum Περὶ εὑρέσεως

Excerpt: ed. Waltz, vol. 7, pp. 697-713

TLG 5024.019

8. p. 50, line 18-p. [50c]
Recipes for medicines
Incipit: p. 50 Εἰς πόνον ὀδόντως· σικαμνιναίας φλούδε
9. pp. 51-57, line 20
Commentary on Hermogenes, Περὶ στάσεων

Excerpt: section9

Rubric: p. 51 Περὶ ῥητοῦ καὶ διανοίας
Incipit: p. 51 ⟨Δ⟩υοῖν ἄκρων ἐν ταῖς στάσεσιν ὑποκειμένων καὶ τῆς ἐξ αμφοῖν μεσότητος

The commentary occupies the whole of pp. 51-52 and surrounds the text of Hermogenes on pp. 53-57

10. pp. 53-57
Hermogenes, On Issues Περὶ στάσεων

Excerpt: section 9

TLG 0592.002

11. p. 57, line 21-p. 58
Address formulae
Incipit: p. 57 Ἄνθρωπε τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐνδοξότατε καὶ περιφανέστατε
12. pp. 59-82, line 24
Scholia Demosthenica

Excerpts

TLG 5017.001

13. p. 82, line 25-p. 114, line 6
Libanios (314-393), Argumenta orationum Demosthenicarum

To orations 5-57

TLG 2200.007

14. p. 114, line 6-p. 115, line 11
List of the orations of Demosthenes
Colophon: p. 115 Αμήν+ Χριστί μου καὶ τῆς ἀναγνώσεως πέρας δεῖξον ἅμα τῆς ὠφελίας αὐτῆς
15. p. 115, line 11-p. 118
Anathema against the anti-Hesychasts
Rubric: p. 115 Βαρλαὰμ καὶ Ἀκινδύνω καὶ τοῖς ὁπαδοῖς καὶ διαδόχοις αὐτῶν, ἀνάθεμα: τρία
Incipit: p. 115 Τοῖς φρονοῦσι καὶ λέγουσι, τὸ λανψαν[sic] ἀπὸ τοῦ Κυρίου ἐπὶ τῆς θείας αὐτοῦ μεταμορφώσεως φῶς

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: pp. 15-30 Western paper, folded in quarto. Watermark: Lion ( c. 100 × 46 mm. ) in the gutter, , similar to WZMA 3697, 3700, 5199-5200, 5308-5311. These examples are dated to 1381-1390. pp. 31-46 Western paper, folded in quarto. Watermark: Trident ( c. 80 × 26 mm. ) in the gutter, , similar to Briquet 15982. This example is dated to 1360-1379. pp. 47-118 Western paper, folded in quarto. Watermark: Horn ( c. 75 × 55 mm. ) in the gutter, , simlar to Likhachev 788-789. These examples are dated to 1372.

Collation

This part consists of eight quires, of which one is a ternion and the rest are quaternia.

  • Quires 2-38 pp. 15-46
  • Quire 48-1 pp. 47-58 The fourth folio has been cancelled, without loss of text.
  • Quires 5-78 pp. 59-106
  • Quire 86 pp. 107-118

There are quire signatures in Greek numerals, in brown ink, on the first folio of each quire, recto, lower centre, and occasionally also on the last folio of each quire, verso, lower centre. They begin a new sequence, with Quire 2 as number 1. Quires 4-5 are treated as a single 15-folio quire by the signatures, but this clearly does not reflect the current physical structure, as indicated by the visible stitching. Signatures survive on Quires 2-8 (αʹ-ϛʹ).

Layout

pp. 15-46 A single column of 27 lines. 151 × 95 mm.

pp. 47-52 A single column of 25-33 lines. 161-175 × 107-120 mm.

pp. 47-52 Main text in a single column of 8-15 short lines, surrounded in the upper, lower and outer margins by 30-32 lines of commentary. 185-190 × 120 mm.

Hand(s)

pp. 15-46 were copied by Hand B in mixed minuscule script, slanting slightly to the right, in brown ink, with moderate variation in letter size.

Syllabic abbreviations and superscript word endings appear throughout the line. Breathings are round and mute iota is absent. There is decorative use of the double dot. Accents are sometimes joined to letters, breathings and abbreviations.

The modern nu and sigma telikon are present.

Punctuation used includes the middle and upper points, lower and middle commas, question mark and full stop.

pp. 47-57, line 20 were copied by Hand C in mixed minuscule script with variable slant, in brown ink, with moderate variation in letter size.

Syllabic abbreviations and superscript word endings appear throughout the line. Breathings are round and mute iota is subscript or absent. There is decorative use of the double dot. Accents are sometimes joined to letters, breathings and abbreviations.

The modern nu and sigma telikon are present.

Punctuation used includes the middle and upper points, lower and middle commas, question mark, full stop and two-dot colon used as a strong normal punctuation mark.

p. 57, line 21-p. 58 were copied by Hand D in mixed minuscule script, slanting slightly to the right, in black ink, with moderate variation in letter size.

Syllabic abbreviations and superscript word endings appear throughout the line. Breathings are round and mute iota is absent. There is decorative use of the double dot and accentuation of all nomina sacra . Accents are sometimes joined to letters, breathings and abbreviations.

The sigma telikon is present.

Punctuation used includes the middle and upper points, lower and middle commas, question mark and full stop.

pp. 59-118 were copied by Hand E in mixed minuscule script, slanting slightly to the right, in black ink, with modest variation in letter size.

Syllabic abbreviations and superscript word endings appear throughout the line. Breathings are round and mute iota is absent. There is decorative use of the double dot and accentuation of all nomina sacra . Accents are sometimes joined to letters, breathings, abbreviations and nomina sacra strokes.

Punctuation used includes the middle and upper points, lower and middle commas, question mark and full stop.

History

Origin: This part was probably copied in the last quarter of the 14th century, as indicated by the watermarks. This is consistent with the style of script.

Part 3 [Cambridge, Fitzwilliam Museum, MS 229, pp. 119-590]

Contents

Language(s): Greek

16. pp. 119-122
Libanios (314-393), Argumenta orationum Demosthenicarum

Preface

TLG 2200.007

17. pp. 122-124
Libanios (314-393), Argumenta orationum Demosthenicarum

Oration 1

TLG 2200.007

18. pp. 124-132
Demosthenes, Olynthiaca 1

TLG 0014.001

19. pp. 132-141
Demosthenes, Olynthiaca 2

TLG 0014.002

20. pp. 132-153
Demosthenes, Olynthiaca 3

TLG 0014.003

21. pp. 153-154
Libanios (314-393), Argumenta orationum Demosthenicarum

Oration 4

TLG 2200.007

22. pp. 154-171
Demosthenes, Philippica 1

TLG 0014.004

23. pp. 124-130
Demosthenes, De pace

TLG 0014.005

24. pp. 179-190
Demosthenes, Philippica 2

TLG 0014.006

25. pp. 190-204
Demosthenes, De Halonneso

TLG 0014.007

26. pp. 204-226
Demosthenes, De Chersoneso

TLG 0014.008

27. pp. 226-244
Demosthenes, Philippica 3

TLG 0014.009

28. pp. 244-271
Demosthenes, Philippica 4

TLG 0014.010

29. pp. 271-278
Demosthenes, In epistulam Philippi

TLG 0014.011

30. pp. 278-286
Demosthenes, Philippi epistula

TLG 0014.012

31. pp. 286-298
Demosthenes, Περὶ συντάξεως

TLG 0014.013

32. pp. 298-311
Demosthenes, Περὶ τῶν συμμοριῶν

TLG 0014.014

33. pp. 311-321
Demosthenes, Pro Megalopolitanis

TLG 0014.016

34. pp. 321-332
Demosthenes, De Rhodiorum libertate

TLG 0014.015

35. pp. 332-340
Demosthenes, Περὶ τῶν πρὸς Ἀλέξανδρον συνθηκῶν

TLG 0014.017

36. pp. 340-367
Demosthenes, Adversus Androtionem

TLG 0014.022

37. pp. 367-477
Demosthenes, De corona

TLG 0014.018

38. pp. 477-590, line 10
Demosthenes, De falsa legatione

TLG 0014.019

39. p. 590, lines 11-26
Excerpt on Christ
Incipit: p. 590 Λόγοι, ὄντως ὡραῖοι· πῶς λέγηται ὁ σώτηρ, λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ Πατρὸς

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: pp. 119-122, 133-136, 511-512, 517-520, 525-526, 543-574 Western paper, folded in quarto. Watermark: Bell ( c. 65 × 35 mm. ) in the gutter, similar in form to Briquet 3940, but larger. This example is dated to 1355. pp. 123-132, 153-156, 165-168 Western paper, folded in quarto. Watermark: Fruit ( 107 × 60 mm. ) in the gutter, similar in form to Briquet 7416-7417, but larger. These examples are dated to 1345-1351. pp. 137-152, 157-164, 184-248, 367-382 Western paper, folded in quarto. Watermark: Flail ( c. 75 × 41 mm. ) in the gutter, similar to Briquet 6173. This example is dated to 1321-1350. pp. 249-264, 383-510 Western paper, folded in quarto. No visible watermarks. pp. 265-366 Western paper, folded in quarto. Watermark: Sword ( c. 45 × 12 mm. ) in the gutter, similar to Briquet 5106. This example is dated to 1320. pp. 513-516, 521-524 Western paper, folded in quarto. Watermark: Bull's head ( c. 40 × 28 mm. ) in the gutter. pp. 527-542 Western paper, folded in quarto. Watermark: Bell ( c. 55 × 35 mm. ) in the gutter, comparable but not identical to Briquet 3926. This example is dated to 1338-1343. pp. 575-576, 589-590 Western paper, folded in quarto. Watermark: Fruit ( c. 110 × 56 mm. ) in the gutter, similar to Briquet 7375. This example is dated to 1353-1357. pp. 577-590 Western paper, folded in quarto. Watermark: Unidentified motif ( c. 55 × 28 mm. ) in the gutter.

Collation

This part consists of thirty quires, of which one is a binion, one a quinion and the rest are quaternia.

  • Quire 910-1 pp. 119-136 The third folio has been cancelled, without loss of text.
  • Quires 10-238 pp. 137-358
  • Quire 244 pp. 359-366
  • Quires 25-388 pp. 367-590

There are quire signatures in Greek numerals, in brown ink, on the first folio of each quire, recto, lower right, and on the last folio of each quire, verso, lower left or lower centre. They begin a new sequence, with Quire 9 as number 1. Some have been lost to cropping or damage. They survive on Quires 9-38 (αʹ-ʹ).

Layout

pp. 119-590 A single column of 24-31 lines. 15 × 100 mm.

Hand(s)

pp. 119-138 were copied by Hand F in mixed minuscule script, slanting slightly to the right, in brown ink, with moderate variation in letter size.

Syllabic abbreviations and superscript word endings appear throughout the line. Breathings are round and mute iota is absent. There is decorative use of the double dot. Accents are sometimes joined to letters, breathings and abbreviations.

The sigma telikon is present.

Punctuation used includes the middle and upper points, lower comma, question mark and full stop.

pp. 139-422, 505-510 were copied by Hand G in mixed minuscule script with variable slant, in black and brown ink, with moderate variation in letter size.

Syllabic abbreviations and superscript word endings appear throughout the line. Breathings are round and mute iota is absent. There is decorative use of the double dot. Accents are sometimes joined to letters, breathings and abbreviations.

The sigma telikon is present.

Punctuation used includes the middle and upper points, lower and middle commas, question mark and full stop.

pp. 423-504, 511-567 were copied by Hand H in an inelegant mixed minuscule script, slanting slightly to the right, in brown ink, with moderate variation in letter size and some flourishing of tails into the margins.

Syllabic abbreviations and superscript word endings appear throughout the line. Breathings are round and mute iota is absent. There is decorative use of the double dot. Accents are sometimes joined to letters, breathings and abbreviations.

The modern nu and sigma telikon are present.

Punctuation used includes the middle and upper points, lower and middle commas, question mark and full stop.

pp. 568-590, line 10 were copied by Hand I in mixed minuscule script with variable slant, in brown ink, with moderate variation in letter size.

Syllabic abbreviations and superscript word endings appear throughout the line. Breathings are round and mute iota is subscript or absent. Use of the double dot is functional only. Accents are sometimes joined to letters, breathings and abbreviations.

The modern eta and modern nu are present.

Punctuation used includes the middle and upper points, lower and middle commas, question mark and full stop.

p. 590, lines 11-26 were copied by Hand J in mixed minuscule script with variable slant, in brown ink, with moderate variation in letter size.

Syllabic abbreviations and superscript word endings appear throughout the line. Breathings are round and mute iota is absent. Accents are sometimes joined to breathings, abbreviations and nomina sacra strokes.

The modern eta, modern nu and sigma telikon are present.

Punctuation used includes the middle and upper points, lower comma and full stop.

History

Origin: This part was probably copied in the second quarter of the 14th century, as indicated by the watermarks. This is consistent with the style of script.

Part 4 [Cambridge, Fitzwilliam Museum, MS 229, pp. 591-658]

Contents

Language(s): Greek

40. pp. 591-627
Demosthenes, Adversus Leptinem

TLG 0014.020

41. pp. 628-630, line 9
Troilus Sidonius, Prolegomena in Hermogenis artem rhetoricam

Excerpt: ed. Walz, vol. 6, pp. 52-55

Incipit: p. 628 Ῥητορική ἐστι τέχνη· πρὸς λόγου δύναμιν· καὶ πράγματι πολιτικοῦ

TLG 2127.001

42. p. 630, lines 10-30, p. 631, line 1
Phoibammon, De figuris

Excerpt: ed. Walz, pp. 52-54

Incipit: p. 630 Ὅτι χρήσιμός ἐστιν ἡ περὶ τούτων γνῶσις

TLG 2596.001

43. p. 630, lines 31-35
Sample of a letter of clemency
Rubric: p. 630 Γράμμα συγγνώμης
Incipit: p. 630 Καὶ συγγνώμην αἰτήσαντι, δεδώκαμεν συνωδικῶς ὡς ἀφήλικι τῶ υἱῶ

A duplicate of the text on p. 638, lines 1-8

44. pp. 631-637, line 25
Easter table for the years 1393/4-1491/2 (6902-7000 AM)
Final rubric: p. 637 Τέλος τῶν ἑπτά αἰώνων
45. p. 637, lines 25-32
Prayer for the reconciliation of estranged couples
Rubric: p. 637 Εὐχὴ εἰς ἕνωσιν αὖθις τοῦ διαλυώντος ἀνδρογύνου καὶ ἑνωθέντας
Incipit: p. 637 Δέσποτα Κύριε Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν· ὁ τὸ μησίτοιχον[sic] τοῦ φραγμοῦ διαλύσας
46. p. 638, lines 1-8
Sample of a letter of clemency
Incipit: p. 638 Συγγνώμην αἰτήσαντι, δεδώκαμεν συνωδικῶς ὡς ἀφήλικι τῶ υἱῶ

A duplicate of the text on p. 630, lines 31-35

47. p. 638, lines 9-22
On the Pauline Epistles
Incipit: p. 638 Παῦλος ὁ μέγας τοῦ Κυρίου ἀπόστολος, συστατικαῖς ἐπιστολαῖς, τοὺς ἱερομένους ἐφοδιάζειν βούληται
48. p. 639
Lunar table for the year 6900 AM (1391/2 CE)
49. p. 640
Magical remedies for various injuries
Incipit: p. 640 Εἰς ἄνθρωπον δακνόμενον ὑπὸ τῆς ὄφεος+ Τὸ σημεῖον τοῦτο ὅπερ θεωρεῖς
50. pp. 641-645
Sample letter formulae
Incipit: p. 641 Παραδοτικὸν ἐκκλησίαν πρὸς ἱερέαν: Ἡ ταπεινότας ἡμῶν παραδηλοῖ διὰ τοῦ πάροτνος ἀυτῆς γράμματος
51. pp. 646, lines 1-7
Chronology and physical description of Jesus
Incipit: pp. 646 Μηνὶ Μαρτίῳ κεʹ ἰνδικτιῶνος αʹ, ἔτους ͵εφʹ, συνελήφθη ὁ Κύριος ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦς Χριστὸς
52. p. 646, lines 7-26
Oracula sibyllina

Excerpt: section 8

TLG 1551.001

53. p. 646, line 26-p. 647, line 4
Eusebius of Caesarea (c. 260-c. 340), Constantini imperatoris oratio ad coetum sanctorum

Excerpt: Chapter 18, section 2

Incipit: p. 646 Αὕτη ἡ Ἐρυθραῖα Σιβύλλα, ἕκτη ἐστὶ μετὰ τὸν κατακλυσμὸν

TLG 2018.021

54. p. 647, lines 5-9
Nikephoros Blemmydes (1197-1272), Regia statua

Brief excerpts from chapters 7, 83, 206

Incipit: p. 647 Βασιλεία μὲν, εἰκονίζει κράτος Θεοῦ· φιλοσοφία δὲ, σοφίαν καὶ πρόνοιαν Θεοῦ
Explicit: p. 647 κἂν μυρίοι καθυλακτοῖεν διακονῆς

TLG 3092.003

55. p. 647, lines 9-31
Excerpt from a religious text
Incipit: p. 647 Τριστάταο λέγονται, ὡς ἀπὸ τοῦ τρεῖς ἐστηκέναι τῶ ἅρματι
56. pp. 648-652
Formulae for divorce etc
Incipit: p. 655 Ἐπειδὴ οἱ θεῖοι καὶ φιλευσεβεὶς νόμοι διαγορεύουσιν
57. p. 653
Table for calculating the date of Easter
58. pp. 654-655, line 14
Notes on solar and lunar cycles
Incipit: p. 654 Τὰ τῶν ιβʹ μ[..]στώδια εἰσὶ αὐτα
59. p. 655, line 15-p. 656, line 5
Formulae for divorce etc
Incipit: p. 655 Ἐπειδὴ οἱ θεῖοι καὶ φιλευσεβεὶς νόμοι
60. p. 657, line 6-p. 658, line 7
Sample of a letter of clemency
Incipit: p. 657 Ἐπειδὴ κατὰ τὴν τῶν θείων καὶ φιλευσεβῶν νόμων
61. p. 658
Brief notes
Incipit: p. 658 Ὅλως ὑπάρχ⟨ει⟩ ὁ φιλόσοφος, ἐρωτηθεὶς, τί ἐστι πονηρὰ

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: pp. 591-638 Western paper, folded in quarto. Watermark: Horn ( c. 75 × 55 mm. ) in the gutter, , simlar to Likhachev 788-789. These examples are dated to 1372. pp. 639-658 Western paper, folded in quarto. Watermark: Bell ( c. 55 × 38 mm. ) in the gutter, , similar to Briquet 4033. These examples are dated to 1387-1397.

Collation

This part consists of four quires, of which one is a ternion, one a quaternion, one is a quinion, and one was of twelve folios.

  • Quire 3910 pp. 591-610
  • Quire 408 pp. 611-626
  • Quire 416 pp. 627-638
  • Quire 4212-2 pp. 639-658 The last two folios have been cancelled, without loss of text.

Layout

pp. 591-630 A single column of 30-33 lines. 161-173 × 100 mm.

pp. 631-658 A single column of 23-34 lines. 171-193 × 110-120 mm.

Hand(s)

pp. 591-627 were copied by Hand K in mixed minuscule script, slanting slightly to the right, in brown ink, with moderate variation in letter size.

Syllabic abbreviations and superscript word endings appear throughout the line. Breathings are round and mute iota is absent. Accents are sometimes joined to letters, breathings and abbreviations.

The modern nu is present.

Punctuation used includes the middle and upper points, lower comma and full stop.

pp. 628-630 were copied by Hand L in mixed minuscule script, slanting slightly to the right, in brown ink, with moderate variation in letter size.

Syllabic abbreviations and superscript word endings appear throughout the line. Breathings are round and mute iota is absent. Accents are sometimes joined to letters, breathings and abbreviations.

The modern eta, modern nu and sigma telikon are present.

Punctuation used includes the middle and upper points, lower and middle commas, full stop and a two-dot colon used as a strong normal punctuation mark.

p. 631 was copied by Hand M in mixed minuscule script, slanting slightly to the right, in brown ink, with significant variation in letter size.

Syllabic abbreviations and superscript word endings appear throughout the line. Breathings are round and mute iota is absent. Accents are sometimes joined to letters and abbreviations.

The modern nu is present.

Punctuation used includes the full stop.

pp. 632-637, line 25 were copied by Hand N in mixed minuscule script, slanting slightly to the right, in brown ink, with moderate variation in letter size.

Syllabic abbreviations and superscript word endings appear throughout the line. Breathings are round and mute iota is absent. Accents are sometimes joined to letters, breathings and abbreviations.

The modern eta and modern nu are present.

Punctuation used includes the middle and upper points, lower and middle commas and full stop.

p. 637, lines 26-33 were copied by Hand O in mixed minuscule script, slanting slightly to the right, in black ink, with moderate variation in letter size.

Syllabic abbreviations and superscript word endings appear throughout the line. Breathings are round and mute iota is absent. There is decorative use of the double dot and accentuation of all nomina sacra . Accents are sometimes joined to letters, breathings, abbreviations and nomina sacra strokes.

The modern eta and sigma telikon are present.

Punctuation used includes the middle and upper points, lower and middle commas and full stop.

pp. 638-657 were copied by Hand P in mixed minuscule script, slanting to the right, in brown ink, with moderate variation in letter size.

Syllabic abbreviations and superscript word endings appear throughout the line. Breathings are round and mute iota is subscript. There is decorative use of the double dot and accentuation of all nomina sacra . Accents are sometimes joined to letters, breathings, abbreviations and nomina sacra strokes.

The modern eta, modern nu and sigma telikon are present.

Punctuation used includes the middle and upper points, lower and middle commas and full stop.

p. 658, lines 1-7 were copied by Hand Q in mixed minuscule script, slanting slightly to the right, in brown ink, with moderate variation in letter size.

Syllabic abbreviations and superscript word endings appear throughout the line. Breathings are round. Accents are sometimes joined to letters.

The sigma telikon is present.

Punctuation used includes the middle point, lower comma and full stop.

p. 658, lines 8-10 were copied by Hand R in mixed minuscule script, slanting slightly to the right, in brown ink, with moderate variation in letter size.

Syllabic abbreviations appear throughout the line. Breathings are round. Accents are sometimes joined to breathings, abbreviations and nomina sacra strokes.

The modern eta, modern nu are present.

Punctuation used includes the middle and upper points and full stop.

p. 658, lines 11-14 were copied by Hand Q in mixed minuscule script, slanting slightly to the right, in brown ink, with little variation in letter size.

Syllabic abbreviations and superscript word endings appear throughout the line. Breathings are round. Accents are sometimes joined to breathings and abbreviations.

The modern eta, modern nu and sigma telikon are present.

Punctuation used includes the middle point, lower and middle commas and full stop.

Decoration

Sections occasionally begin with minor initials in brown ink.

History

Origin: This part was probably copied in the last quarter of the 14th century, as indicated by the watermarks. This is consistent with the style of script.

Additional Information

Record Sources

Availability

Visitors to the Fitzwilliam Museum who wish to consult Collection material are required to apply to the Museum in advance of their visit. For information on eligibility and admission procedures see: Fitzwilliam Museum: Study Room.

Bibliography

    A descriptive catalogue of the manuscripts in the Fitzwilliam Museum, , (Cambridge, University Press, 1895) Libanii opera / recensuit Richardus Foerster. Vol. VIII, Progymnasmata ; Argumenta orationum demosthenicarum. Bibliotheca scriptorum Graecorum et Romanorum Teubneriana, , (Lipsiae, Teubner, 1915) «Da Ilio il vento mi spinse e portò verso i Ciconi». Una nuova edizione dell’epistola di Basilio Pediadita a Costantino Stilbes Νέα Ῥώμη. Rivista di Studi Bizantinistici, Strano, G. (13, 263-275, 2016)

Funding of Cataloguing

The Polonsky Foundation

Digital Images

Cambridge Digital Library

Abbreviations

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