Introduction:
This manuscript dated by Kaufman to around 1140, is a Latin translation of Josephus’
Antiquitates Judaicae (The Antiquities of the Jews). This work was completed in around AD 93 and originally
written in Greek. It is an account of Jewish history from the creation to just before
the outbreak of the revolt
against Rome of AD 66-70.
Flavius Josephus (AD 37/38-AD 100) was a first-century Jewish historian. He was born
in Jerusalem and
then moved to Rome where he became the official historian of the imperial family.
His works are an important source of
the political history of Palestine under Roman rule. Christian scholars embraced him
for providing impartial evidence
of the existence of Jesus in his Antiquities, although its authenticity is much disputed.
The inscription at the front says that this manuscript belonged to Brother
William of Monkland
in Herefordshire, which was a small cell of the Benedictine Abbey of Conches in Normandy,
France. He was
confessor to his relative, Humphrey de Bohun, 6th Earl of Hereford (1309-1361).
The decoration (including the decorative use of small circles) is typical of Herefordshire
production in
the second quarter of the 12th century, so it may well have been made in Monkland,
Herefordshire.
Josephus Historia
Historiae Antiquitatis Judaice
The Antiquities of the Jews
Language(s): Latin
Josephus, Flavius -c0038-c0100
Explicit: Flavii Iosephi Historiarum Antiquitatis Iudaice liber vicesimus
Form: codex
Support:
Parchment
Extent: ff. 213
Dimensions (leaf):
367 × 260 mm.
Collation
1 ).8-248 2).8-248 (wants 6) 3).8-248-23).8-248 (wants 1) 24 ).8-248-27).8-248 (wants 8).8-248 (7
canc.).
Layout
Double columns of 45-49 lines.
Decoration
Title in green and red capitals (fol. 1); Initial with medallion of fiddler;
(fol. 1r) large red, blue and green capitals, and a fine initial full of
dragons in good early English style.
Colophon in red, blue and green capitals (fol. 213v). Lib. IV has a tall
nimbed figure standing on a contorted man (fol. 36r).
Binding
20th century white leather, over pasteboards by Cambridge
Colleges Conservation Consortium. Preserved 19th century covers of the previous
binding, brown calfskin over pasteboards.
Origin:
12th century
; Herefordshire, England, perhaps Monkland.
Provenance and Acquisition
On f. 1 at upper right corner is:
Lib. fratris Willelmi de monkeland (c1320-c1380). There seems to be an inscription
on the recto of a vellum leaf now
stuck to the cover.
