Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries: Cambridge, Trinity College, MS R.9.20

Diktyon no.: Diktyon 12041

Introduction: This short manuscript, produced in the very late 15th or early 16th century, contains the Heroicus ( On Heroes ), a dialogue between a Phoenician and a vine-tender regarding Homer's presentation of heroes and gods. It is traditionally attributed to Flavius Philostratus I "the Athenian" (ca. 170-247/250 CE) , a Greek sophist of the Roman imperial period. The manuscript was copied by Georgios Moschos, a Greek scribe who was living in Corfu in 1496, but who moved to Italy within the next few years and worked in Ferrara and Mirandola. Dr Matteo Di Franco

Language(s): Greek

ff. 1r-37r

Philostratus, Flavius, c. 160/170-250, On Heroes Heroicus

Rubric: f. 1r Φιλοστράτου Ἡρωικά Τὰ τοῦ διαλόγου πρόσωπα ἀμπελουργός· Φοίνιξ ἔμπορος· προλογίζει ὁ ἀμπελουργός

Incipit: f. 1r Ἴων ὁ ξένος ἢ πόθεν

Explicit: f. 37r πρὶν ἢ καὶ τοῦδε ἀκροάσασθαι τοῦ λόγου

TLG 0683.002

ff. 37v-39v blank

Physical Description

Form: codex

Support: ff. ff. 1r-39v, western paper, folded in quarto. Watermarks: Circle with starred line ( 71 × 34 mm. ) on the gutter comparable to Briquet, Cercle 3069 , dated 1500. Balance in a circle ( 70 × 40 mm. ) on the gutter, with countermark, comparable to Briquet, Balance 2524 , dated 1504. Decorated pot ( 63 × 27 mm. ) middle of folio [iii].

Extent: Codex: 2 + 39 + 2 leaves. 205 × 155 mm.

Foliation: [i-ii] + 1-39 + [iii-iv]; modern foliation in pencil in Arabic numerals, recto, upper right corner.

Collation

The manuscript consists of 5 quaternions:

Quires 1-4⁸ ff. 1r-32v
Quire 5^8-1 ff. 33r-39v

Quire signatures in Greek numerals in brown ink on upper right corners on ff. 1r (α), 9r (β), 25r (δ); in Arabic numerals in pencil on lower right corner from 2 to 5 on ff. 9r, 17r, 25r, 33r.

Condition

In good condition; pages are yellowed and slightly stained.

Layout

ff. 1r-37r: written space 150 × 100 mm. Single column, 24 lines.

Hand(s)

Georgios Moschos : the manuscript was copied by Georgios Moschos (RGK I 67; active between the end of the 15th and the beginning of the 16th century) in a mixed minuscule script, slanting slightly to the right, in black ink, with modest variation in letter size. The same hand has added the title, the chapter headings, chracters' names and interlinear glosses in the same style, in red ink.

Syllabic abbreviations and superscript word endings usually appear only at the end of lines, but occasionally elsewhere. Breathings are round and mute iota is used. Horizontal strokes appear over names.

The modern nu and sigma telikon are present. Enlarged lunate sigma wrap around the following letters. Beta appears in its bilobate shape, with the top loop smaller than the lower. The upper curve of minuscule delta is often extended obliquely.

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

Decoration

Decorated major initials in red ink mark the start of chaprters.

Binding

Purple velvet over couched-laminate boards, leather label on spine. Four holes remain in each board.

205 × 160 × 15 mm.

History

Origin: The manuscript was copied by Georgios Moschos (RGK I 67; II 88; III 111). The combination of watermarks indicates that it was produced around the beginning of the 16th century.

Provenance and Acquisition

Donated by Thomas Nevile (ca. 1548-1615) , Dean of Canterbury (1597-1615), Master of Trinity College, Cambridge (1593-1615), during his mastership.

Additional Information

Record Sources

Description (2019) draws on M.R. James, The Western Manuscripts in the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge, vol. 3 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1901), p. 239.

Availability

Entry to read in the Library is permitted only on presentation of a valid reader's card for admissions procedures contact Cambridge University Library Admissions). Contact the Manuscripts Department for further information on the availability of this manuscript

Bibliography

The western manuscripts in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge: a descriptive catalogue, James, M.R. (Cambridge, 2, Cambridge University Press, 1901)

Sur les héros / Philostrate, Follet, Simone (Paris, Les Belles Lettres, 2017)

Repertorium der griechischen Kopisten, 800-1600 Veröffentlichungen der Kommission für Byzantinistik, Gamillscheg, ErnstHarlfinger, Dieter (Wien, I. Grossbritannien, Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1981)

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 R.9.20

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