Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries: Cambridge, University Library, MS Add. 1879.16

Diktyon no.: Diktyon 77966

Introduction: This fragment is a single folio containing part of a homily by the 6th-century Patriarch of Antioch Gregory, formerly attributed to John Chrysostom. It was copied in the distinctive bouletée style of minuscule script, placing its production in the 10th century. Dr Christopher Wright

Language(s): Greek

Gregory of Antioch, In mulieres ungentiferas

This text was previously attributed to John Chrysostom

The fragment begins at PG 88, col. 1856, line 5, and ends at col. 1857, line 9

Incipit: || Recto ⟨θεωρῆ⟩σαι τὸν τάφον· καὶ ἐπλησίαζον μὲν ὅσον ἐπόθουν

Explicit: Verso εἴ πη τὴν αἰτίαν διὴν παρεγένετο· εἶτα· βλε⟨πόντων⟩ ||

CPG 7384

PG 88, coll. 1848-1865

Physical Description

Form: codex

Support: Parchment

Extent: Fragment (leaf) 1 leaves. 366 × 255 mm. 366 × 238 mm.

Condition

Much of the margins has been torn away, encroaching in the lower outer corner into the written area, with some loss of text. Strips of Japanese paper have been used to stabilise this area of damage. In the upper outer corner a parchment patch has been attached in an earlier repair. There are numerous worm-holes and other small holes in the leaf. There is purple mould staining, significant water staining and areas of dirt, and discoloration due to the presence of glue when this fragment was used in the binding of another book. The ink is faded in places.

Layout

Two columns of 33 lines each. 252 × 155 mm. Pricking does not survive. Ruled in hardpoint, type Leroy 22D2a. The text appears in a variable relationship to the lines, but is mostly written along them.

Hand(s)

The text was copied in a mixed minuscule bouletée script, slanting slightly to the left, in brown ink, with minimal variation in letter size.

Syllabic abbreviations are not used, except the horizontal stroke for nu, which appears only at the end of lines, while superscript word endings do not appear. Acute and grave accents are often almost horizontal, while breathings are angular and usually very extremely small. Mute iota is absent. There is decorative use of the double dot, and where it appears on the first letter of a word, the breathing is omitted.

Punctuation used includes the middle and upper points and the lower and middle commas.

Decoration

The beginnings of sections are marked by minor initials in brown ink.

Additions

There are some pen-trials in the margins. The fragment has been marked with the present classmark and the former classmark T.13.

History

Origin: The style of script indicates that the fragment was copied in the 10th century.

Provenance and Acquisition

Owned by the Biblical scholar Constantin von Tischendorf (1815-1874) .

Bought by the University Library from Tischendorf's executors in 1876.

Additional Information

Availability

Entry to read in the Library is permitted only on presentation of a valid reader's card. For information on eligibility and admissions procedures, see Joining the Library). For further enquiries, and to confirm the availability of the manuscript, please contact the Special Collections Reading Room.

Bibliography

Hand-list of the additional Greek manuscripts in the University Library, Cambridge Scriptorium, Easterling, Patricia E. (16, 2, 302-323, 1962)

Codices Chrysostomici Graeci I Codices Britanniae et Hiberniae, Aubineau, Michel (Paris, CNRS éditions, 1968)

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, University Library, MS Add. 1879.16

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