Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries: Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.8.3

Diktyon no.: Diktyon 12015

Introduction: This illuminated Gospel book was copied during the first half of the 15th century. Its ornament is characteristic of the last centuries of Byzantium, including miniatures of the four Evangelists painted using translucent wash, and zoomorphic initials at the beginning of the Gospels. However, the decorative scheme grows more modest as one progresses through the manuscript. In the first two miniatures, of Matthew (f. 15v) and Mark (f. 94v), the sky is coloured with gold, but in the portrait of Luke (f. 146v) the space prepared for it has been left blank, while in the last, that of John (f. 230v), the large areas of sky present in the other three are absent, leaving open the question of whether it was ever intended for gilding. This might suggest that the money for production ran out during the process. More peculiarly, while Matthew and Mark begin with large initial letters composed of entangled animals, the initials of Luke and John are merely ordinary letters slightly expanded, not even in the red ink used throughout for minor initials, while no space has been left in the text for a larger letter, indicating that the inclusion of major initials had already been cancelled when these Gospels came to be copied. This scaling back of the decorative scheme may find an echo in the supplementary materials at the beginning of the manuscript. These have been copied by a different scribe from the main text, but the use of the same paper and the fact that both hands appear in the same quire indicates that they were part of the original scheme of production. In addition to the summary listing of lections, they include the letter of Eusebios of Caesarea explaining his system of canons for matching equivalent passages in the different Gospels, which normally precedes a set of canon tables laying out these sequences, while the canon numbers have been marked in the margins of the Gospel text along with the numbers of the Ammonian sections, the subdivisions to which they pertain. However, a run of blank folios follows the letter of Eusebios, indicating that canon tables were supposed to be included but never produced. There also seems to have been some retreat from the original plan of production in the marginal rubric supporting the Gospel text. While this includes lectionary information and running headers for Gospels along with the Ammonian sections and Eusebian canons, numbers and headings for the longer chapter divisions of each Gospel, the κεφάλαια, were included for only the first few of these sections and then abandoned. Dr Christopher Wright

Language(s): Greek

ff. 1r-293v

Gospel book

Gregory-Aland 66; Von Soden ε 1286 (Kr); Scrivener Evan. 66

Filiation: The manuscript was categorised by Aland as conforming to the majority text. It was used in the preparation of the Mill, Souter, Huck-Greeven and IGNTP editions.

1.1. ff. 1r-6r

Summary synaxarion

Incipit: f. 1r Τῆ Κυριακῆ τοῦ Πάσχα· εἰς τὴν λειτουργείαν εὐαγγέλιον αʹ

Explicit: f. 6r Εἰς ἀνομβρίαν· εὐαγγέλιον Λουκᾶ κεφάλαιον κʹ

1.2. ff. 1r-8v

Summary menologion

Incipit: f. 6r Μὴν Σεπτεμβρίου ἔχων ἡμέρας λʹ

Explicit: f. 8v Εὐαγγέλιον Λουκᾶ· ἀναστᾶσα Μαριάμ

1.3. ff. 8v-9r

Eusebios of Caesarea, Letter to Karpianos

Rubric: f. 8v Εὐσέβιος· Καρπιἀνῶ[sic] ἀγαπητῶ ἀδελφῶ· ἐν Κυρίω χαίρειν

Incipit: f. 8v Ἀμμώνιος μὲν, ὁ Ἀλεξανδρεὺς· πολλὴν ὡς εἰκὸς φιλοπονίαν

Explicit: f. 9r παραπλήσια λέγοντας αὐτοὺς εὑρήσεις· ἔρρωσα ἐν Κυρίω

TLG 2018.013

CPG 3465.1

ff. 9v-15r are blank.

1.4. ff. 9v-15r

Blank folios

1.5. f. 15v

Evangelist miniature of Matthew

1.6. ff. 16r-92v, line 3

Gospel of Matthew

Rubric: f. 16r Τὸ κατὰ Ματθαῖον ἅγιον εὐαγγέλιον

Incipit: f. 16r Βίβλος γενέσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ Υἱοῦ Δαύιδ· Υἱοῦ Ἀβραὰμ

Explicit: f. 92r πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας· ἕως τῆς συντελείας τοῦ αἰῶνος· ἀμήν

Final rubric: f. 92v Τέλος τοῦ κατὰ Ματθαῖον ἁγίου εὐαγγελίου· στίχοι ͵βχʹ· ἐξεδόθη ὑπ'αὐτοῦ τοῦτο, μετὰ χρόνους ηʹ· τῆς Χριστοῦ ἀναλήψεως

TLG 0031.001

1.7. f. 92v, line 3-f. 93v

List of κεφάλαια (chapters) to Mark

Rubric: f. 92v Τοῦ κατὰ Μάρκον εὐαγγελίου τὰ κεφάλαια

Incipit: f. 92v αʹ· ⟨Π⟩ερὶ τοῦ δαιμονιζομένου

Explicit: f. 93v μηʹ· ⟨Π⟩ερὶ τῆς αἰτήσεως τοῦ Κυριακοῦ σώματος

f. 94r is blank.

1.8. f. 94v

Evangelist miniature of Mark

1.9. ff. 95r-144v, line 3

Gospel of Mark

Rubric: f. 95r Τὸ κατὰ Μάρκον ἅγιον εὐαγγέλιον

Incipit: f. 95r Ἀρχὴ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ Υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ

Explicit: f. 144r καὶ τὸν λόγον βεβαιοῦντος, διατῶν[sic] ἐπακολουθούντων σημείων:· ἀμήν

Final rubric: f. 144v Τέλος τοῦ κατὰ Μάρκον, ἁγίου εὐαγγελίου· στίχοι ͵αχʹ· ἐξεδόθη μετὰ χρόνους ιʹ· τῆς Χριστοῦ ἀναλήψεως

TLG 0031.002

1.10. ff. 144v-146r

List of κεφάλαια (chapters) to Luke

Rubric: f. 144v Τοῦ κατὰ Λουκὰν εὐαγγελίου τὰ κεφάλαια

Incipit: f. 144v αʹ ⟨Π⟩ερὶ τῆς ἀπογραφῆς

Explicit: f. 146r <⟨Π⟩>ερὶ Κλεόπα πγʹ :+

1.11. f. 146v

Evangelist miniature of Luke

1.12. ff. 147r-229v, line 2

Gospel of Luke

Rubric: f. 147r Τὸ κατὰ Λουκὰν ἅγιον εὐαγγέλιον

Incipit: f. 147r Ἐπειδήπερ πολλοὶ ἐπεχείρησαν ἀνατάξασθαι διήγησιν

Explicit: f. 229r καὶ ἦσαν διαπαντὸς ἐν τῷ ἱερῶ· αἰνοῦντες καὶ εὐλογοῦντες τὸν Θεὸν:· ἀμήν

Final rubric: f. 229v Τέλος τοῦ κατὰ Λουκᾶν ἁγίου εὐαγγελίου· στίχοι ͵βωʹ· ἐξεδόθη μετὰ χρόνους ιεʹ· τῆς Χριστοῦ ἀναλήψεως

TLG 0031.003

1.13. f. 229v, lines 3-21

List of κεφάλαια (chapters) to John

Incipit: f. 229v αʹ ⟨Π⟩ερὶ τοῦ ἐν Κανᾶ γάμου

Explicit: f. 229v ιηʹ: ⟨Π⟩ερὶ τῆς αἰτήσεως τοῦ Κυριακοῦ σώματος

f. 230r is blank.

1.14. f. 230v

Evangelist miniature of John

1.15. ff. 231r-293v

Gospel of John

Rubric: f. 231r Τὸ κατὰ Ἰωάννην ἅγιον εὐαγγέλιον

Incipit: f. 231r Ἐν ἀρχὴ ἦν ὁ λόγος· καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν· καὶ Θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος

Explicit: f. 293v οὐδὲ αὐτὸν οἶμαι τὸν κόσμον χωρῆσαι τὰ γραφόμενα βιβλία ἀμήν

Final rubric: f. 293v Τέλος τοῦ κατὰ Ἰωάννην εὐαγγελίου· ἐξεδόθη μετὰ χρόνους λβʹ· τῆς Χριστοῦ ἀναλήψεως:+ ἐν Πάτμω τῆ νήσω στίχοι ͵βτʹ

TLG 0031.004

Physical Description

Form: codex

Support: Western paper, folded in quarto. Watermark: Scissors ( c. 55 × 35 mm. ) in the gutter, similar to Briquet 3658. This example is dated to 1426.

Extent: Codex: i + 1 + 297 + i leaves. 215 × 145 mm.

Foliation: The manuscript is foliated with the numbers [i] + [ii] + [iii-iv], 1-49, [49a], 50-293, [v] + [vi] in Arabic numerals, in pencil, recto, upper right.

Collation

The manuscript consists of 37 quires, of which two are quinia and the rest are quaternia.

Quire 1^10-1 ff. [iii]-6 The last folio has been cancelled, without loss of text.
Quire 2⁸ ff. 7-14
Quire 3^8-1 ff. 15-21 The first folio has been cancelled, without loss of text.
Quires 4-36⁸ ff. 22-284
Quire 37¹⁰ ff. 285-[v]

There are quire signatures in Arabic numerals, in black ink, on the first folio of each quire, recto, upper centre or right. They survive on all quires (1-37). Some are accompanied by ordinal numbers in Latin text, but these have mostly been lost to cropping or never included. They survive on Quire 1 and partially on Quire 2. There are leaf signatures in Latin letters and Arabic numerals in black ink, recto, lower right. This sequence ignores the quires numbered 1 and 2 in the quire signature sequence, beginning with "a" on Quire 3.

Condition

There is severe pest damage in the outermost folios, diminishing further inwards inwards but extending to f. 56 from the left and f. 256 from the right. This damage precedes the most recent rebinding, as the modern endleaves ff. [i] and [vi] are unaffected. There are small tears to the edge of some folios and occasional holes torn through them (e.g. ff. 289-290. There are some areas of dirt and water staining, mainly to the tail, which becomes more severe in the outermost folios, and is accompanied by mould on ff. 284v-[v] verso.

Layout

A single column of 21 lines. 155 × 85 mm. The text at the end of each Gospel is arranged in a tapering pattern, with the subscription and count of the number of lines (στίχοι) written around it.

Hand(s)

ff. 1r-9r were copied by Hand A in in mixed minuscule script with variable slant, in brown ink, with moderate variation in letter size and some flourishing of tails into the margin.

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 and nomina sacra strokes, which are sometimes decorated with a single vertical bar.

The modern eta, modern nu and loop epsilon are present. Distinctive letter-forms include upsilon resembling minuscule gamma or Latin Y.

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

Headings, annotations and the text of Eusebios were added in the same style, in red ink.

ff. 16r-293v were copied by Hand B in mixed minuscule script, upright or slanting slightly to the left, in brown ink, with modest variation in letter size and mild flourishing of tails into the margin.

Syllabic abbreviations appear only at the end of lines, but 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. The double grave accent is in use. There are occasional marginal quotation marks in red ink.

The loop epsilon is present.

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

Chapter lists and annotations were added in the same style, in red ink. Gospel headings are in epigraphic display majuscule, in red ink.

Decoration

Portraits of the Evangelists accompany all four Gospels, in partially translucent wash paint and gold:-

f. 15v Matthew
f. 94v Mark
f. 146v Luke
f. 230v John

In the miniatures of Luke and perhaps John, space has been left for the gold but it has not been added

Headpieces precede the beginning of each Gospel: pylai for Matthew (f. 16r) and Luke (f. 147r), rectangular for Mark (f. 95r) and John (f. 231r). Those for Matthew, Mark and Luke are in a consistent style, in brown ink with red, blue, translucent yellow and (for Luke) green infill, with vegetative ornament. That for John is composed of interlace in brown ink only.

The summary lectionary is preceded by a rectangular headpiece in a different style of interlace, in brown ink with red infill (f. 1r).

The Gospels of Matthew (f. 16r) and Mark (f. 95r) begin with zoomorphic major initials in predominantly blue-grey paint, composed of multiple entwined animal forms.

In the Gospel text, minor initials in red ink appear at the beginning of lections, or the beginning of the line following the beginning of a lection in mid-line. In the summary lectionary, the beginning of subsections and sentences are marked by minor initials or ordinary letters in red ink.

Line-fillers accompany the headings to various sections of the summary lectionary (ff. 1v, 5r-8v). These consist either of interlace in the same style as the headpiece on f. 1r or slightly ornamented red horizontal bars.

Additions

As part of the original production of the manuscript, the copyist has added marginal Ammonian section numbers in brown, acompanied by Eusebian canon numbers in red. The beginning and end of lections have been marked with άρχή and τέλος marks, for which space has been left in the text, together with marginal lection notes. The copyist has also begun to add marginal κεφάλαιον (chapter) numbers and τίτλοι (titles) in red ink, but these cease after the fourth chapter of Matthew (f. 22v). They do not correspond to the standard sequence. Running headers identifying the Gospel have been added in red ink, verso, top left and occasionally recto, top right, but these only appear sporadically through the manuscript.

A later hand has added running headers identifying the Gospel and modern chapter number in Greek text and Arabic numerals, verso, upper right, in brown ink. Marginal numbers marking the beginning of each modern chapter have also been added in black ink, apparently by the same hand.

Thomas Gale has written his name on f. 1r. A Latin note has been added on f. [iii] verso, probably by Thomas or his son Roger Gale, speculating that the incomplete presence of κεφάλαια indicates an early date, incorrectly identifying the Gospel in which they are present as that of Mark, and other annotations on ff. 8v and 92r.

Binding

18th-century binding with grey paper covering over couched-laminate boards, with a white parchment spine and plain pastedowns. The classmark appears on the spine on patches. The title ‘Evangelii grece’ has been written on the head and tail.

227 × 162 × 92 mm.

Accompanying Material

Quire 37 (ff. 285-[v]) has been bound in a wrapper of parchment manuscript waste with Latin text.

History

Origin: The watermark indicates that the manuscript was copied during the middle of the first half of the 15th century, which would be consistent with the style of script. It has previously been dated as early as the 12th century (by Gregory, von Soden and Scrivener), but this is clearly incompatible with its physical characteristics.

Provenance and Acquisition

Owned by the antiquarian Thomas Gale (c. 1635-1702) , Fellow of Trinity and Dean of York.

Donated to Trinity College by Thomas Gale's son Roger Gale (1672-1744) in 1738.

Additional Information

Availability

Visitors to Trinity 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: Trinity College: Information for Readers.

Bibliography

Novum Testamentum Graece : ad antiquissimos testes denuo recensuit apparatum criticum apposuit Constantinus Tischendorf. Vol. 3, Prolegomena / scripsit Caspar Renatus Gregory additis curis Ezrae Abbot., Gregory, Caspar René (Leipzig, J.C. Hinrichs, 1894)

Textkritik des Neuen Testamentes, Gregory, C.R (Leipzig, J. C. Hinrichs, 1900)

The western manuscripts in the library of Trinity College: a descriptive catalogue, James, M.R. (Cambridge, 3, Cambridge University Press, 1902)

Die Schriften des neuen Testaments, in ihrer ältesten erreichbaren Textgestalt hergestellt auf Grund ihrer Textgeschichte, von Soden, H.F. (Berlin, 1, Verlag von Alexander Duncker,, 1902)

Facsimiles and descriptions of minuscule manuscripts of the New Testament, Hatch, William Henry Paine (Harvard University Press, 1951)

Les citations évangéliques de l'Êphrem Grec Byzantina, Hemmerdinger Iliadou, Démocratie (5, 313-93, 1973)

Adversaria Critica Sacra With a Short Explanatory Introduction, Scrivener, Frederick Henry Ambrose (Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2010)

Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament, Scrivener, Frederick Henry Ambrose (1, Project Gutenberg, 2011)

Funding of Cataloguing

The Polonsky Foundation

Digital Images

Cambridge Digital Library

Abbreviations

View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.

Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries

Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.8.3

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