Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries: Cambridge, Trinity College, MS R.16.35

Diktyon no.: Diktyon 12050

Introduction: This manuscript is a complete copy of Homer, Iliad, with hypotheses, copied by Andreas Donos in 1530s. The manuscript was also meant to contain the scholia, as the folios have been ruled to receive them. By comparison with the reading of the Codex Mori used by Joshua Barnes for his 1711 edition, Walter Leaf identified R.16.35 in 1884 as the codex used by the philologist and belonging to the bishop of Ely John Moore (1646-1714; cf. note f. [b] recto). The manuscript, however, does not appear in the list of John Moore's manuscript in Bernard, Catalogi librorum manuscriptorum Angliæ et Hiberniæ (1697), or in the handwritten supplementary list of Moore's manuscripts, now CUL MS Oo.7.50.2, compiled by Thomas Tanner (1674-1735) in 1715. The manuscript belonged to Richard Bentley, Master of Trinity College, and was eventually donated to the College in 1757 by his namesake nephew. Dr Matteo Di Franco

Language(s): Greek

1. ff. 1r-1v

Vita Homeri quinta (ed. Allen 1912)

Rubric: f. 1r Βίος Ὁμήρου τοῦ ποιητοῦ

Incipit: f. 1r Ὅμηρος ὁ ποιητής, πατρὸς μὲν, ἦν μέλητος· μητρὸς δὲ, κριθηίδος· καὶ τὸ γένος, κατὰ πίνδαρον μὲν, Σμυρναῖος

Explicit: f. 1v ἐνθάδε τὴν ἱερὴν κεφαλὴν κατὰ γαῖα καλύπτει, ἀνδρῶν ἡρώων κοσμήτορα θεῖον Ὅμηρον

TLG 1805.005

2. ff. 1v-2v

Hypothesis to the Iliad

Rubric: f. 1v ὑπόθεσις

Incipit: f. 1v Ἡ ἑκάβη ἐγκυμοῦσα τὸν ἀλέξανδρον, εἶδε κατ' ὄναρ τεκεῖν ἁπτόμενος δαλόν, ὅσης κατέκαυσε πᾶσαν τὴν τροίαν

Explicit: f. 2v ὁ ἥφαιστος οἰνοχοήσας αὐτοὺς διέλυσεν· οἱ δὲ καὶ εὐωχηθέντες το[sic] λοιπὸν τῆς ἡμέρας, εἰς ὕπνον τρέπονται

cf. TLG 5026.016

3. f. 3r

On the various type of poets De variis poetarum generibus

Rubric: f. 3r διαίρεσις ποιητῶν

Incipit: f. 3r Τῶν ποιητῶν, οἱ μέν εἰσι λυρικοὶ· οἱ δὲ τραγικοί· οἱ δὲ μονῳδοὶ· οἱ δὲ κωμικοὶ, καὶ ἕτεροι, μυρία ὀνόματα ἔχοντες

Explicit: f. 3r ὁ μῦθος ὁ ἀλληγορικὸς ἐστὶ τὸ καριότατον χαρακτήρισμα τῶν κατ' ἐξοχὴν ἀνωνύμως καλουμένων ποιητῶν· καὶ περὶ μὲν διαιρέσεως ποιητῶν, ἅλις ταῦτα

cf. Prolegomenon of Tzetzes in Hesiodi Opera et dies, ed. T. Gaisford, Poetae minores Graeci, vol. 2 (1823), p. 12 ss.

cf. TLG 5025.002

4. ff. 4r-617v

Homer, Iliad Ilias

Incipit: f. 4r Μῆνιν ἄειδε θεὰ Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος

Explicit: f. 671v Ὣς οἵ γ’ ἀμφίεπον τάφον Ἕκτορος ἱπποδάμοιο

Rubric: f. 671v τέλος τῆς ὅλης ἰλιάδος Ὁμήρου

Hypothesis and single-line hypothesis introduce each book, the number of lines of each book is noted in Greek numerals at the end of each book:

Book 1: ff. 4r-29r (the hypothesis is merged into general hypothesis to the Iliad)
Book 2: ff. 29r-66v
Book 3: ff. 66v-86r
Book 4: ff. 86v-109v
Book 5: ff. 109v-147v
Book 6: ff. 148r-170r
Book 7: ff. 170v-191r
Book 8: ff. 191v-215r
Book 9: ff. 215v-245v
Book 10: ff. 245v-270r
Book 11: ff. 270v-306r
Book 12: ff. 306v-326v
Book 13: ff. 326v-361v
Book 14: ff. 362r-384r
Book 15: ff. 384r-415v
Book 16: ff. 415v-452r
Book 17: ff. 452v-484v
Book 18: ff. 484v-510v
Book 19: ff. 511r-529v
Book 20: ff. 530r-551r
Book 21: ff. 551v-577v
Book 22: ff. 577v-599v
Book 23: ff. 600r-637v (hypothesis not present)
Book 24: ff. 637v-671v

TLG 0012.001, 5026.016

5. f. 672r

Epigram on Hector (Anthologia Graeca, ix 387)

Incipit: f. 672r ⟨(Ἕ)⟩κτορ ἀρήϊον αἷμα κατὰ χθονὸς εἴ ποι ἀκούεις

Explicit: f. 672r ⟨(Θ)⟩εσσαλίην κεῖσθαι πᾶσαν ὑπ’ αἰνεάδαις

TLG 7000.001

6. f. 672r

Epigram on Hector (Anthologia Graeca, xvi 4)

Incipit: f. 672r ⟨(Β)⟩άλλετε νῦν μετὰ πότμον ἐμὸν δέμας· ὅττι καὶ αὐτοὶ νεκροῦ σῶμα λέοντος ἐφυβρίζουσι λαγωοί

DBBE type 4666

TLG 7000.001

Physical Description

Form: codex

Support: Western paper, folded in folio. Watermarks: Scale ( 50 × 50 mm. ) on mid of the folio comparable to Briquet 2519 , dated 1533. Cardinal’s hat with a cloverleaf within the hat, tassel cloverleaf-shaped ( 65 × 45 mm. ) on mid of the folio, without correspondence to the main repertoires. Anchor ( 65 × 30 mm. ) on mid of the folio comparable to Briquet 484 , dated 1530. Cardinal’s hat ( 45 × 40 mm. ) on mid of the folio comparable to Piccard Online 32086 , dated 1529. Fleur de Lys ( 50 × 35 mm. ) on mid of the folio comparable to Briquet 7293 , dated 1533.

Extent: Codex: iii + 672 + ii leaves. 310 × 200 mm.

Foliation: [a-b] + [i-iii] + 1-672 + [iv-v]. Modern foliation in pencil in Arabic numerals, recto, upper right corner.

Collation

The manuscript consists of 85 quires:

Quire 1⁴ ff. [iii]-3
Quires 2-18⁸ ff. 4-139
Quire 19⁶ ff. 140-145
Quires 20-84⁸ ff. 146-665
Quire 85^8-1 ff. 666-671

Quire signatures in Greek numerals in brown ink on lower right-hand corner of first rectos, from f. 4r (α^ον) to f. 666r (πδʹ).

Condition

In good condition.

Layout

ff. 1r-3v: written space 210 × 120 mm. 30 lines per page.

ff. 4r-672v: written space 180 × 95 mm. 12 lines per page. The folios are ruled for receiving scholia, which were never copied.

Hand(s)

The manuscript is copied by Andreas Donos (Ἀνδρέας Δῶνος, RGK I 14) active between the end of 15th and the first half of 16th century.

Decoration

Decorated major initials in red ink mark the start of the prefatory materials and the books of the Iliad, and on f. 50v.

Minor initials outlined in red ink throughout the books of the Iliad.

Binding

Couched-laminate boards covered with brown leather. The text block edges are decorated with red circles and an additional outer shape in brown ink, possibly the outline of a turtle. The title ‘ΟΜΗΡΟΣ’ is inscribed in the circle in the centre of the foredge.

330 × 220 × 85 mm.

Accompanying Material

Pastedown: a note on donation.

f. [a]: a small note on readings.

f. [b]: a note by Walter Leaf dated 25 May 1884 on the identification of the manuscript with the 'Codex Mori' used by J. Barnes.

History

Origin: The manuscript was copied by Andreas Donos (Ἀνδρέας Δῶνος, RGK I 14). The combination of watermarks indicates that it was produced in the 1530s.

Provenance and Acquisition

The manuscript belonged to Richard Bentley (1662-1742) , Master of the College .

Donated to Trinity College in 1757 by Richard Bentley (ca. 1704-1786) , Senior Fellow, rector of Nailstone from 1745 to 1786, executor for his uncle Richard Bentley, Master of Trinity.

Additional Information

Record Sources

Description (2021) draws on M.R. James, The Western Manuscripts in the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1901), vol. 2, p. 399.

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

The “Codex Mori” of the Iliad The Journal of Philology, Leaf, Walter (13, 26, 215-217, 1885, https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/journal-of-philology/codex-mori-of-the-iliad/807DDC7E6746187D005E8956169B681C)

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

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.16.35

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