Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries

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

Cambridge, King's College, MS 23

Diktyon no.: Diktyon 11884

Contents

Introduction: This Greek manuscript, containing a part of the second-century author Theon of Smyrna's Treatise on aspects of mathematics useful for the reading of Plato, is an elegant copy written by the scribe Iakobos Diassorinos, who was librarian of the royal library at Fontainebleau around the middle of the 16th century. The codex is written in a large calligraphic script with lots of space on the page. The headpiece which opens the book depicts a shield bearing the three lilies of France and the three lions of England. Dr Erika Elia

Language(s): Greek

ff. 1r-94r
Theon, of Smyrna , De utilitate mathematicae Aspects of Mathematics Useful for the Reading of Plato

The treatise is incomplete (ed. E. Hiller, Theonis Smyrnaei philosophi Platonici expositio rerum mathematicarum ad legendum Platonem utilium, Leipzig 1878, pp. 1-119), and, as in other exemplars of the tradition of Theon of Smyrna's text, it is divided in two, the part corresponding to Hiller 1878, pp. 46 l. 20-119 being considered as a separate text, on music (see Hiller 1878, p. VII)

TLG 1724.001

1.1. ff. 1r-[36]v
Theon, of Smyrna , De utilitate mathematicae, excerptum
Rubric: f. 1r Θέωνος Σμυρναίου πλατωνικοῦ τῶν κατὰ μαθηματικὸν χρησίμων εἰς τὴν τοῦ Πλάτωνος ἀνάγνωσιν
Incipit: f. 1r Ὅτι μὲν οὐχ οἷον[sic] τε συνεῖναι τῶν μαθηματικῶς λεγομένων παρὰ Πλάτωνι
Explicit: f. [36]v ἐν γὰρ τρισὶ διαστάσεσι τὸ στερεὸν νοεῖται[sic].||
Final rubric: f. [36]v Τέλος

As in other exemplars of the tradition, Theon of Smyrna's text is divided in two parts; this is Hiller 1878, pp. 1-46 l. 19

TLG 1724.001

ff. [i] verso-[iii] recto are blank.

1.2. ff. [37]r-94r
Theon, of Smyrna , De utilitate mathematicae, excerptum (De musica)
Rubric: f. [37]r Τοῦ αὐτο⟨ῦ⟩ περὶ μουσικῆς

Part of the title has been written by the scribe on the upper edge of the leaf, as an instruction for the rubricator

Incipit: f. [37]r Ἐπεὶ δὲ καὶ συμφώνους τινὰς φασὶν[sic] ἀριθμούς
Explicit: f. 94r λείπεται δὲ μνημονεῦσαι στοιχειωδῶς καὶ τῶν κατ’ ἀστρονομίαν.||
Final rubric: f. 94r Τέλος

As in other exemplars of the tradition, Theon of Smyrna's text is divided in two parts; this is Hiller 1878, pp. 46 l. 20-119

TLG 1724.001

ff. [iv] verso-[v] recto are blank.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Western paper, folded in quarto. Watermarks: ff. 9-46 no watermarks are visible. ff. 1-8 Anchor in a circle surmounted by a five-point-star; under the circle number ‘3’ , countermark ‘CAC’ (not very clearly visible), in the corner ( 95 × 40 mm. ) in the gutter, without exact correspondence in the main repertoires. ff. [i]-[iii], 47-[v] Monogram in a shield with letters ‘W’ and ‘X’ surmounted by a four-leaf-clover, under the shield name (particulars are difficult to see) ( ca. 40 × 35 mm. ) in the gutter comparable to Briquet, Lettres et monogrammes 9869-9870 , which are dated to 1534 and 1536, with variants dated until 1549.
Extent: Codex: 3 + 94 + 2 leaves., 270 × 205 mm.
Foliation: Modern foliation in pencil, in Arabic numerals, only on the first leaf, recto, of each quire, in the top right-hand corner, from 1 ( f. 1r) to 94 ( f. 94r): [i]-[iii] + 1-94 + [iv]-[v].

Collation

The manuscript consists of 1 binion (formed by 3 leaves, the first being probably the left pastedown), 5 quaternions, 1 ternion, 6 quaternions and 1 binion which lacks the third leaf, the last is probably the right pastedown.

  • Quire 14 ff. left pastedown-[iii]
  • Quires 2-68 ff. 1-40
  • Quire 76 ff. 41-46
  • Quires 8-138 ff. 47-94
  • Quire 144-1 ff. [iv]-right pastedown

Vertical catchwords in the scribe's hand on the last verso, lower part, near the gutter; very short, they are written from the top down.

Condition

The manuscript is in good condition. There is a tear in the margin of f. [69]r The cover of the binding is damaged on the spine.

Layout

ff. 1r-94r: One single column, 20 lines 180 × 110 mm.

Hand(s)

ff. 1r-94r Hand A: the text has been written entirely by Iakobos Diassorinos (16th c., 2nd quarter-1563) , (Ἰάκωβος Διασσωρινός, RGK I, 143. See also RGK II, 191; RGK III, 241), in the more calligraphic variant of his script.

The text is written in black ink; titles and initials in red and in gold.

The principal titles of the works are written in majuscule letters.

The scribe wrote a few additions in the margins in black and red ink.

Passim some loops have been coloured in gold.

Decoration

On f. 1r there is a rectangular headpiece coloured in blue, with a golden frame. In the centre there is a shield divided in four; two divisions contain three lilies of France, and two three lions of England. The shield is surrounded by a laurel wreath, which is surmounted by a crown. Around the shield, there are pomegranates. The colours are blue, gold, red and green. The headpiece and the titles probably were not realised by the scribe: on ff. 1r and [37]r are still visible two annotations written by the scribe on the upper edge of the leaves, indicating the title which was to be written on each folio (title on f. [37]r remained incomplete).

On f. 1r there is a large golden initial in ekthesis, richly decorated with a vegetal motif with vine scrolls.

Thick golden initials in ekthesis throughout the text, see e.g. f. [20]v.

A golden flower accompanies the title of a paragraph on f. [12]r.

Some diagrams accompany the text in black ink, red and gold, see e.g. ff. 55v, [74]r.

Additions

On f. [iii] verso there is a Latin title for the work: ‘ Theonis Smyrnaei platonici de iis, quae sunt utilia mathematico ad lectionem Platonis’.

On f. 94v there is a Greek annotation, by another hand, ‘Λόγων ἐνθάδε ποταμὸς νοῦ δὲ σταλάγμος[sic] ’.

A later hand wrote on f. [i] recto a note concerning the quality of the script, ‘ Haec est pulcra manus, sed qui sic iudicet errat, nam fuerant istaec carmina scripta pede’.

On the left pastedown is written the shelfmark of the manuscript, which is also written (only the number 23) in the upper margin, right, of f. 1r.

Binding

Modern western binding. Full red velvet cover on green background over wooden boards. Painted gauffered edges in blue and red. In the lower part of the spine, paper label with shelfmark.

There is a hole through the left board towards the foredge, just above the centre. The textile on spine is worn out.

282 × 212 × 48 mm.

Accompanying Material

History

Origin: The manuscript was copied by Iakobos Diassorinos between the second quarter and the sixth decade of the 16th century.

Provenance and Acquisition

The manuscript was certainly present in King's College Library by 1600, given that it is listed as number 5 among the manuscripts of the library in T. James, Ecloga Oxonio-Cantabrigiensis, Londini 1600, p. 138. On the left pastedown is glued the King's College bookplate.

Additional Information

Record Sources

Description (2020) partly draws on M.R. James, A descriptive catalogue of the Manuscripts other than Oriental in the Library of King's College, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1895, p. 41.

Availability

Visitors to King's College who wish to consult Special Collections material are required to apply to the Library in advance of their visit. For information on eligibility and admission procedures see: King's College Library.

Bibliography

    A descriptive catalogue of the manuscripts other than Oriental in the library of King's College, Cambridge, , (Cambridge, University Press, 1895) Specimen eines Repertoriums der griechischen Kopisten. Jahrbuch der österreichischen Byzantinistik, Gamillscheg, ErnstHarlfinger, Dieter (27, 293-322, 1978) Repertorium der griechischen Kopisten, 800-1600. I. Grossbritannien Veröffentlichungen der Kommission für Byzantinistik, Gamillscheg, ErnstHarlfinger, Dieter (Wien, Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1981) El copista griego Jacobo Diasorino (s. XVI): estudio paleográfico y codicológico de sus manuscritos, García Bueno, Carmen (2017, 2019-10-03T15:23:34Z, http://hdl.handle.net/10803/456128) Jacobo Diasorino en Italia ΠΗΓΗ/Fons, García Bueno, C. (3, 51-69, 2018) The evolution of Jacobos Diassorinos’ handwriting in context Griechisch-byzantinische Handschriftenforschung : Traditionen, Entwicklungen, neue Wege, , C.Brockmann, C.Harlfinger, D.Valente, S.Deckers, D. (Berlin ; Boston, 201-210, De Gruyter, 2020)

Funding of Cataloguing

The Polonsky Foundation

Digital Images

Cambridge Digital Library

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