Medieval Manuscripts in Cambridge Libraries

A catalogue of Western manuscripts and papyri at Cambridge University Library, the Fitzwilliam Museum and selected Cambridge colleges

Cambridge, University Library, MS Mm.1.17

Diktyon no.: Diktyon 12226

Contents

Introduction: This manuscript contains a miscellany of Greek medical texts, comprising writings by Oribasius and pseudo-Alexander of Aphrodisias, as well as an anonymous collection of recipes. The codex is formed of three parts, all written by the same scribe, Michael Souliardos, at the beginning of the 16th century, as indicated by the watermarks. Born in Nauplion, Souliardos was active in Greece and in Italy, where this manuscript was probably copied. Another manuscript copied by him is preserved at Cambridge University Library, MS Dd.11.70 . MS Mm.1.17 was owned by the Parisian physician Jacques Mentel (1597-1671) and later acquired by Jean-Baptiste Hautin (probably a relative of the French scholar and numismatist Jean-Baptiste Hautin, ca. 1580-1640). When Hautin had the manuscript, its parts were certainly already bound together, as is indicated by the fact that, in a handwritten note on the left pastedown, he recorded the inclusion among the manuscript's contents of ‘ Oribasii tractatus varii’, and a work by Oribasius is present in part II. Dr Erika Elia

Physical Description

Form: codex
Extent: Codex: 1 + 132 leaves. ca. 220/225 × 160-164 mm.
Foliation: Modern foliation in pencil, in Arabic numerals, in the top right hand corner recto; the first leaf is unnumbered; the number 17 has been given also to a smaller leaf ( f. 17[a]) bound before f. 17; another smaller leaf, bound between ff. 26 and 27, is unnumbered ( f. [26a], a small leaf bound after f. 29 has been numbered as 29a: [i] + 1-16, 17[a], 17-26, [26a], 27-29, 29a, 30-129 + [ii]-[iii]. A numbering of the leaves in pencil by the same hand is present also on the lower external corner of the recto of the leaves, not always consistent with the principal foliation.

Collation

116, 24-1+1 | 316+2, 416, 512 | 6-720, 820+6

Condition

The codex is in fair condition. The leaves are yellowed and there are some tears near the margins; the leaves have not been trimmed.

Binding

Early modern binding. Full alum tawed skin cover over couched-laminate boards. On the left cover there are traces of a Greek manuscript inscription in black ink (the script has almost completely disappeared, ‘ ἰατρικόν’). On the spine are pasted three paper labels with the shelfmark; in the upper part gold tooling on a red leather label with title ‘ Tracts | M.S.’

A leaf from a printed edition of canon law is pasted on the right pastedown.

236 × 173 × 31 mm.

Accompanying Material

A parchment strip with a handwritten text on it has been bound at the end of the book, probably as a consolidation tool (here ff. [ii]-[iii]).

History

Provenance and Acquisition

As stated in a note on f. 1r, the manuscript was part of the library of the Parisian physician Jacques Mentel (1597-1671) . Although the note is written on the first leaf of part I, it can be assumed that, by the time the note was added, the manuscript had already its present make-up. In Cambridge University Library, there is another Greek manucript owned by Mentel, MS Kk.5.7 : in this codex, near Mentel's name, the date of 1670 is mentioned, indicating that in that year it was still in the physician's possession. This may also apply to MS Mm.1.17.

The manuscript was afterwards owned by a certain J.B. Hautin, probably a relative of the French scholar and numismatist Jean-Baptiste Hautin (ca. 1580-1640) : on the left pastedown there is Hautin's name on the right, ‘ J. B. Hautin ’, and, on the left, by the same hand, the title ‘ Oribasii tractatus’. The same hand wrote another title on f. [i] verso, ‘ Oribasii tractatus varii’. Hautin acquired the manuscript probably after 1670.

John Moore (1646-1714) , bishop of Ely: no. 1000 (left pastedown) in the handwritten supplementary list of Moore's manuscripts, now MS Oo.7.50(2), compiled by Thomas Tanner (1674-1735) after the publication of Bernard, Catalogi librorum manuscriptorum Angliæ et Hiberniæ (c. 1697).

Presented to the University Library in 1715 by George I (1660-1727) : donation bookplate engraved by John Pine (1690-1756) in 1736 on the left pastedown.

Part 1 [Cambridge, University Library, MS Mm.1.17, ff. 1-19]

Contents

Language(s): Greek

1. ff. 1r-15r
Pinax to Dioscorides' work De materia medica
Rubric: f. 1r Πίναξ τοῦ παρόντος βιβλίου

Only the alphabetical index of the work is present in the manuscript

The contents of this pinax, comprising also an entry from the Suda, corresponds exactly to the first seven leaves of the 1499 Aldine edition of Discorides

1.1. Pinax to Dioscorides' De materia medica
Incipit: f. 1r Ἄκορον Ἄσαρον
Explicit: f. 14v Ὠκινοσιδὲς Ὤκρα
1.2. f. 15r
Index of paragraphs of Pseudo-Dioscorides' De iis, quae virus ejaculantur, animalibus libellus, in quo et de rabioso cane (Theriaca)
Rubric: f. 15r Κεφάλαια τοῦ περὶ ἰοβόλων λόγου
Incipit: f. 15r Περὶ λυσσῶντος κυνός
Explicit: f. 15r l. 18 Περὶ βασιλίσκου
1.3. f. 15r
Extract from the Suda about Dioscorides
Rubric: f. 15r l. 19 Ἐκ τῶν Σουίδα
Incipit: f. 15r Διοσκουρίδης, Ἀναζαρβεὺς, ἰατρός
Explicit: f. 15r l. 22 ἰατρικὰ περιβόητα.

A. Adler, Suidae lexicon, (Leipzig, 1928-1935), letter Δ, entry 1206

TLG 9010.001

ff. 15v-16v are blank

2. f. 17[a] recto
Troparion
Incipit: f. 17[a] recto Ὅρος βεβηκὸς[sic], ἀτρεκέστατος Λόγος
Explicit: f. 17[a] recto Νείμας τὸ πνεῦμα Χριστὸς ὡς ὑπέσχετο.

The text is followed by the beginning of another hymn, inc. Θεοῦ συγκατάβασιν τὸ πῦρ

3. f. 17[a] verso
List of expenses
4. f. 17r
Fragment from a Manaeum, comprising the synaxarion for 20th May, Passion of Thalelaeus martyr
Rubric: f. 17r l. 1 Μηνὶ Μαίῳ κ΄. Μνήμη τοῦ ἁγίου μάρτυρος Θαλελαίου
Incipit: f. 17r l. 3 Οὕτος ἤν ἐπὶ Νουμεριανοῦ βασιλέως
Explicit: f. 17r l. 22 ξίφει τὴν κεφαλὴν ἀποτέμνεται.

B. Koutloumousianos (ed.), Μηναίον, 9 (Venice, 1843), p. 78

f. 17v is blank

6. ff. 18r-19r
⟨ Aelius Aristides⟩ , A Monody for Smyrna Monodia de Smyrna
Rubric: f. 18r ⟨ Μ⟩ονωδία ἐπὶ Σμύρνῃ
Incipit: f. 18r ⟨ Ὦ⟩ Ζεῦ, τί χρήσωμαι;
Explicit: f. 19r αὐτοῖς ὥρα τοῖς δένδρεσι θρηνεῖν.

TLG 0284.020

f. 19v is blank

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Western paper, folded in quarto. Watermarks: ff. 1-17 Cardinal's hat with letter ‘ A’, and countermark ‘ IB’ ( 55 ca. × 55 ca. mm. ), in the gutter, very similar (since it is in the gutter, the watermark is not entirely visible) to Harlfinger Chapeau 64b , which is dated to 1516. ff. 17-19 Cardinal's hat in the gutter , only half of the watermark is visible.
ff. 1-16, 17, 17[a]-19 Codex: 20 leaves., 225 × 164 mm. f. 17[a] Leaf 1 leaves., 110 × 75 mm.

Collation

Part I is formed by two quires. Quire 2 is a binion which lost the last leaf (no loss of text); a smaller leaf was inserted before the first leaf of this quire ( f. 17[a]).

  • Quire 116 ff. 1-16(α΄)
  • Quire 24-1+1 ff. 17[a], 17-19

One single original Greek signature in ink by the scribe, on the first leaf, recto, of the first quire, α΄ ( f. 1r).

Layout

ff. 1r-13r A single column of 23 lines. 170 ca. × 100 ca. mm.

ff. 18r-19r A single column of 28 lines. 165 ca. × 105 ca. mm.

Hand(s)

ff.1r-15r, 17[a], 17r, 18r-19r Hand A: the texts have been written by Michael Souliardos (15th century-16th century) (Μιχαὴλ Σουλιάρδος, RGK I, 286; on him see also RGK II 392; RGK III, 468) in a minuscule script of small size.

The text is written in black ink; initials in red (initials are missing on f. 18r).

Additions

In the lower margin f. 1r there is an ownership noteof Jacques Mentel in red ink (see Provenance).

On the lower edge of f. 19r there is an annotation by the scribe about his work, ‘ Φύλλα γεγραμμένα οε΄ τετράδια (?)ς΄’, "Written leaves 75, quires (?) 6".

History

Origin:

Part I of the manuscript was copied by Michael Souliardos probably around the beginning of the 16th century , as the watermarks suggest.

Provenance

As stated in a note on f. 1r, ‘ Ex Bibliotheca Jacobi Mentel’, the manuscript was part of the library of the Parisian physician Jacques Mentel (1597-1671) .

Part 2 [Cambridge, University Library, MS Mm.1.17, ff. 20-63]

Contents

Language(s): Greek

7. ff. 20r-63r
Oribasius, Extracts from Libri ad Eunapium

The manuscript contains extracts from books 3 and 4, and a part of the prooemium; the chapters have been numbered in the margin by the scribe (the numbering does not always correspond to the current one)

TLG 0722.005

Ff. [26a] recto, f. 29a verso, f. 38v, ff. 63r-63v are blank

7.1. ff. 20r-26r
Book 3, chapters 38-45, 62-73
Incipit: f. 20r Περὶ νευροτρώτων. Νεῦρον τρωθὲν διὰ τὸ περιττὸν τῆς αἰσθήσεως
Explicit: f. 26r εὐτυχηκέναι τῆς ἐμπειρίας
Final rubric: f. 26r Τέλος τοῦ τρίτου λόγου. Ἀρχὴ τοῦ δου
7.2. ff. 26v-42v
Book 4, chapters 13-33, 34 (title only), 81, 82 (title only), 84, 91, 113-144, 96, 105-113 (only title and beginning)
Rubric: f. 26v Ἐκ τοῦ δου βιβλίου Ὀρυβασίου[sic]
Incipit: f. 26v Περὶ ταράξεως ὀφθαλμῶν. Τὰς τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν ταράξεις
Explicit: f. 42v Πρὸς δυστοκίαν. Λίθον ἴασπιν||

The extracts from book 4 end with chapter 113 (indicated in the manuscript as 114), incomplete

The ending of chapter 15 has been written by the scribe on the verso of a smaller leaf ( f. [26a] verso) bound between ff. 26 and 27; chapters 81, 82 (title only), 84 (indicated as 85), 91, have been written by the scribe on the recto of a smaller leaf ( f. 29a recto) bound between ff. 29 and 30

7.3. ff. 43r-51v
Blank leaves
7.4. ff. 52v-53r
Prooemium
Rubric: f. 52r Ὀριβασίου πρὸς Εὐνάπιον
Incipit: f. 52r Ἐξ ὧν ἡμῖν διελέχθης Εὐνάπιε κράτιστε
Explicit: f. 53r ἐνταῦθα τὴν ἀρχὴν, ποιήσομαι
7.5. ff. 53v-62v
Book 1, chapters 1-14
Incipit: f. 53v Περὶ παιδίου τροφῆς. Τῷ νεογενεῖ παιδίῳ
Explicit: f. 62v Περὶ ὑδάτων. Δεῖ δὲ καὶ τῆς τῶν ὑδάτων, ἀρετῆς τε καὶ κακίας ἐμ… ||

The extracts from book 1 end with chapter 14, incomplete

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: ff. 20-26, 27-29, 30-36 Western paper, folded in quarto. Watermarks: ff. ff. 20-26, 27-29, 30-36 Anchor in a circle surmounted by a cross with pearls ( 60 ca. × 42 mm. ), in the gutter, comparable to Briquet Ancre 534 , which is dated to 1522 and 1527-30, and to Mošin (Anchor Watermarks) 1232-1234 , which are dated to 1519, 1522 and ca. 1520. ff. [26a], 29[a] Western paper. No watermarks are visible.
ff. 20-26, 27-29, 30-63 Codex: 43 leaves. 225 × 165 mm. ff. [26a], 29a Leaf 2 leaves. ca. 150 × 93/100 mm.

Collation

Part II is formed by three quires. Two smaller leaves were inserted in quire 3 (ff. [26a], 29a).

  • Quire 316+2 ff. 20-26, [26a], 27-29, 29a, 30-35(α΄)
  • Quire 416 ff. 36-51
  • Quire 512 ff. 52-63

One single original Greek signature in black ink by the scribe, on the first folio recto of quire 3, α΄ ( f. 20r).

Layout

ff. 20-26, 27-29, 30-63 A single column of 22 lines. 160 ca. × 95 ca. mm.

Hand(s)

ff. ff. 20-26, 27-29, 30-63 Hand A: the texts have been written by Michael Souliardos (15th century-16th century) (Μιχαὴλ Σουλιάρδος, RGK I, 286; on him see also RGK II 392; RGK III, 468).

The text is written in black ink; initials in red.

Decoration

Initials in ekthesis in red ink decorated with a simple vegetal motif, see e.g. f. 20r.

Simple thick initials in red ink, see e.g.f. 35v.

History

Origin:

Part II of the manuscript, as part I, was copied by Michael Souliardos probably around the beginning of the 16th c., as the watermark confirms.

Part 3 [Cambridge, University Library, MS Mm.1.17, ff. 64-129]

Contents

Language(s): Greek

8. ff. 64r-115r
Problemata, Εxcerpta Medical Problems, Εxtracts

The text is attributed to Alexander of Aphrodisias but is considered spurious

Rubric: f. 64r Ἀλεξάνδρου Ἀφροδισέως ἐρωτοἀποκρίσεις[sic] φιλοσόφων

Only books 1-2 have been published ( J.L. Ideler, Physici et medici Graeci minores, 1, (Berlin, 1841) [repr. Amsterdam, 1963], pp. 3-80); about the contents of books 3-5 in this manuscript see R.W. Sharples, 'Alexander and pseudo-Alexander of Aphrodisias, Scripta minima. Questions and Problems, makeweights and prospects', in Gattungen wissenschaftlicher Literatur in der Antike, ed. by W. Kullmann, J. Althoff and M. Asper (Tübingen, 1998), pp. 383-403 (pp. 388 and 391-393).

The scribe wrote scholia in the margins

TLG 0732.002

Folios 115v-116v are blank.

8.1. ff. 64r-80r
Book 1, sections 1-147
Rubric: f. 64r Βιβλίον αον Ἀλεξάνδρου Ἀφροδισέως φυσικῶν ἀπορημάτων καὶ ἰατρικῶν προβλημάτων ἐκλογαί
Incipit: f. 64r Διὰ τὶ τοὺς ἀνθρώπους ὁ Ὅμηρος πολιοκροτάφους ἐκάλεσεν
Explicit: f. 80r l. 3 ἐν τῇ συνουσίᾳ διαφορεῖ τὸ φλέγμα
8.2. ff. 80r-87r
Book 2, sections 3-76
Rubric: f. 80r l. 4 Ἀρχὴ τοῦ βου βιβλίου Ἀλεξάνδρου Ἀφροδισέως φυσικῶν ἀπορρημάτων[sic] καὶ ἰατρικῶν προβλημάτων
Incipit: f. 80r Διὰ τὶ κιονὶς καὶ σταφυλή
Explicit: f. 87r l. 2 ἐξυδαρωθῆναι καὶ ἐμπνευματωθῆναι
Final rubric: f. 87r Τέλος τοῦ βου βιβλίου καὶ ἀρχὴ τοῦ γ΄
8.3. ff. 87r-95r
Book 3
Rubric: f. 87r l. 3 Ἀρχὴ τοῦ τρίτου λόγου Ἀλεξάνδρου Ἀφροδισέως φυσικῶν ἀπορρημάτων[sic] καὶ ἰατρικῶν προβλημάτων ἐκλογαί
Incipit: f. 87r Διὰ τὶ οἱ φρενητικοὶ ἐν μὲν τῷ πάθει, ἰσχυροί
Explicit: f. 95r l. 12 τοὺς ὁρῶντας ἐκτήκει καὶ ἀπόλλυσιν
Final rubric: f. 95r Τέλος τοῦ τρίτου βιβλίου καὶ ἀρχὴ τοῦ δου
8.4. ff. 95r-109r
Book 4
Rubric: f. 95r l. 13 Ἀλεξάνδρου Ἀφροδισέως φυσικῶν ἀπορρημάτων[sic] καὶ ἰατρικῶν προβλημάτων ἐκλογαί \ δον /
Incipit: f. 95r Περὶ πυρεκτικῶν νοσημάτων καὶ ἑτέρων. Ἰστέον ὅτι τὰ αἴτια
Explicit: f. 109r l. 7 ἀπὸ μελαγχολικοῦ χυμοῦ καὶ δριμαίου
Final rubric: f. 109r Τέλος τοῦ δου βιβλίου
8.5. ff. 109r-115r
Book 5
Rubric: f. 109r l. 8 Ἀλεξάνδρου Ἀφροδισέως φυσικῶν ἀπορρημάτων[sic] καὶ ἰατρικῶν προβλημάτων ἐκλογαί βιβλίον εον
Incipit: f. 109r Τίνα εἰσὶν τὰ ἀναγκαιώτατα τε καὶ ἀνώτατα τῆς ἰατρικῆς μέρη
Explicit: f. 115r περιφορὲς[sic] καὶ τετυλωμένον
Final rubric: f. 115r Τέλος σὺν θεῷ τοῦ εου βιβλίου Ἀλεξάνδρου Ἀφροδισέως φυσικῶν ἀπορρημάτων[sic] καὶ ἰατρικῶν προβλημάτων
9. ff. 117r-121r
Medical recipes on plasters De emplastris et eorum confectione

The same text, comprising also the text about eyes, is found in MS Venice, Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Z 294, ff. 1r-8v

At the end of this series of texts there is a final rubric attributing them to Oribasius' work Synopsis ad Eustathium filium (TLG 0722.004); the texts do not coincide with the printed text, but for the medical recipe about eyes (f. 127r), see J. Raeder, Oribasii synopsis ad Eustathium et libri ad Eunapium (Leipzig, 1926) [repr. 1964], pp. 3-313 (9,61,9)

9.1. ff. 117r-121r
Rubric: f. 117r Βιβλίον περιέχων[sic] τὰς ἰατρικὰς σκευασίας τὼν ἐμπλάστρων
Incipit: f. 117r Σκευασία τὸ Πολυάρχην[sic]. Ἀμώμου
Explicit: f. 121r ξυλαλόης δ΄
Final rubric: f. 121r Περὶ πασῶν ἐμπλάστρων

f. 121v is blank

9.2. ff. 122r-126r
Rubric: f. 122r Περὶ πασῶν ἐμπλάστρων, καὶ σκευασμένων διὰ πείρας
Incipit: f. 122r Ἔμπλαστρος θαυμαστὴ ἡ λεγομένη Ἐσπασιανοῦ[sic] καίσαρος
Explicit: f. 126r ἀλλὰ καὶ ἔξωθεν ἐπιχριωμένη

f. 126v is blank

9.3. f. 127r
Medical recipe about eyes
Rubric: f. 127r Περὶ ὠτὸς βομβορίζοντος
Incipit: f. 127r Ἱσπάνου ζωμόν
Explicit: f. 127r χρῆσις αὑτή[sic]
Final rubric: f. 127r Τέλος τῶν Ὀρηβασίου[sic] ἐννέα λόγων, τῶν πρὸς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ Εὐστάθιον

ff. 127v-129v are blank

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: ff. 64-129 Western paper, folded in quarto. Watermarks: ff. 64-83, 84-87, 100-103 Coat of arms with crossed crosses, flanked by letters ‘ A V’ ( 50 ca. × 80 mm. ), in the gutter, no comparable form found in the main repertoires. ff. 88-92, 94-99 Cardinal's hat surmounted by a flower with 5 petals, with letter ‘ B’, and countermark ‘ A’ ( 75 ca. × 45 mm. ), in the gutter, comparable to Briquet Chapeau 3459 , which is dated to 1522. ff. 93-94 Crown , high, with three clovers, surmounted by a cross ( 130 ca. × 50 mm. ), in the gutter, comparable to Briquet Couronne 4901-4902 , which are dated to 1511/1513 and 1475/1520. ff. 104-115, 122-129 Cardinal's hat with letter ‘ B’, and countermark ‘ A’ ( 45 ca. × 45 mm. ), in the gutter, very similar to Briquet Chapeau 3461 , which is dated to 1515, 1516, 1521, 1525, 1526. ff. 116-121 Anchor in a circle surmounted by a cross with pearls ( 60 ca. × 42 mm. ), in the gutter, comparable to Briquet Ancre 534 , which is dated to 1522 and 1527-30, and to Mošin (Anchor Watermarks) 1232-1234 , which are dated to 1519, 1522 and ca. 1520.
Extent: Codex: 66 leaves. 220 × 160 mm.

Collation

Part III is formed by two quires. Between the 12th ( f. 115) and 13th leaf ( f. 122) of quire 8 a ternion (ff. 116-121) was inserted.

  • Quires 6-720 ff. 64-103(αον )
  • Quire 820+6 ff. 104-129

One single original Greek signature in ink by the scribe, on the first folio recto of quire 6, αον ( f. 64r). One horizontal catchword by the scribe, in black ink, on the lower margin, near the gutter, of the last leaf of quire 7 ( f. 103v).

Layout

ff. 64r-115r, 122r-126r, 127r A single column of 20 lines. 165 ca. × 100 ca. mm.

ff. 117r-121r A single column of 23 lines. 160 ca. × 95 ca. mm.

Hand(s)

ff. 64r-115r, ff. 117r-121r, 122r-126r, 127r Hand A: the texts have been written by Michael Souliardos (15th century-16th century) (Μιχαὴλ Σουλιάρδος, RGK I, 286; on him also RGK II 392; RGK III, 468).

The text is written in black ink; initials in red.

Decoration

Small vegetal friezes in black and red ink on ff. 87r, 95r, 117r.

Simple thick initials in red ink, sometimes with small decorative strokes, see e.g.f. 95r.

Vegetal decorative motif in the upper margin, before the beginning of the text, on f. 64r.

History

Origin:

Part III of the manuscript, as part I, was copied by Michael Souliardos probably around the beginning of the 16th century, as the watermarks confirm.

Additional Information

Record Sources

Description (2020) draws partly on A catalogue of the Manuscripts preserved in the Library of the University of Cambridge (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1861), vol. 4, pp. 109-110.

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

    A catalogue of the manuscripts preserved in the library of the University of Cambridge Catalogue of manuscripts (Ll-Oo), (Cambridge, 4: Ll-Oo, Cambridge University Press, 1861) Repertorium der griechischen Kopisten, 800-1600 Veröffentlichungen der Kommission für Byzantinistik, Gamillscheg, ErnstHarlfinger, Dieter (Wien, I. Grossbritannien, Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, 1981) Alexander and pseudo-Alexanders of Aphrodisias: Scripta minima. Questions and Problems, makeweights and prospects Gattungen wissenschaftlicher Literatur in der Antike ScriptOralia, Sharples, R. W. (Tübingen, 95, 383-408, Narr, 1998) The Greek Manuscripts of John Moore and Etienne Baluze Codices Manuscripti, Jackson, Donald F. (56/57, 29-42, 2006) Byzantine medical manuscripts: towards a new catalogue, with a specimen for an annotated checklist of manuscripts based on an index of Diels' catalogue Byzantion: Revue internationale des Études Byzantines, Touwaide, Alain (79, 453-595, 2009) A census of Greek medical manuscripts: from Byzantium to the Renaissance Medicine in the medieval Mediterranean, Touwaide, A. (London, Routledge, Taylor and Francis, 2016)

Funding of Cataloguing

The Polonsky Foundation

Digital Images

Cambridge Digital Library