Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries: Cambridge, University Library, MS Add. 1879.21

Diktyon no.: Diktyon 77971

Introduction: This fragment is a single folio from a menaion, a liturgical book containing the components of services particular to individual days of the calendar year, and was probably copied in the 13th century. Unusually, lections from the Gospels and the Acts and Epistles are included, and the order of the canons differs from the norm, the order of the first and second canon of each ode being reversed. Dr Christopher Wright

Language(s): Greek

Menaion

The fragment begin and ends during the office for 15 August.

Incipit: || Recto Ὁ ξένος οἰκήσας Θεοτόκε, ἐν τῆ ἀχράντω νηδΰι σου σαρκούμενος

Explicit: Verso εἰς παντ||

Physical Description

Form: codex

Support: Parchment, of quite poor quality. There are holes dating from the time of production within the written area.

Extent: Fragment (leaf) 1 leaves. 250 × 164 mm.

Condition

The inner and outer margins and much of the lower margin have been cut or torn away, with slight loss of text. There are tears to the edges of the folio and a number of small holes. The folio has been folded horizontally across the middle. There are areas of dirt and significant water staining, which has caused some loss of text, and there is some fading of ink in other areas.

Layout

Two columns of 40 lines each. 202 × 160 mm. Pricking does not survive. Ruled in hardpoint, type unclear because of losses to the margins. Text hangs from the lines.

Hand(s)

The main text was copied in a mixed minuscule script, slanting slightly to the right, in brown ink. There is moderate variation in letter size.

Syllabic abbreviations appear throughout the line, while superscript word endings appear only at the end of lines. Breathings are round, and mute iota is absent or subscript. There is decorative use of the double dot, and accentuation of all lengths of nomina sacra .

Distinctive letter-forms include minuscule eta with a broad space after the initial ascender (e.g. recto, col. b, lines 2, 14) and a large minuscule upsilon curved inwards at the top (e.g. verso, col. a, lines 9, 11).

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

Headings and eirmoi have been copied in the same style in red ink.

Decoration

Lections begin with simple minor initials in red ink.

Additions

The fragment has been marked with the present classmark and the former classmark T.11.1.

History

Origin: The style of script suggests that the fragment was probably copied in the 13th 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)

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. 1879.21

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