Cambridge, University Library, MS Nn.3.14
Diktyon no.: Diktyon 12244
Contents
Physical Description
Collation
The manuscript consists of 28 quires: 18-2, 2-98, 108-1, 112, 126, 13-168, 178-4 | 18-288.
Binding
Binding with pale brown full skin covering over couched-laminate boards.
There is decorative tooling on boards, spine and on the board edge. Raised bands are worn-out, but a little trace of decorative tooling is preserved.
The title (Euripidis Hecuba Orestes Phoenissæ Hecuba Orestes) is tooled in gold on the spine.
Marbled paper is used as pastedowns with blank leaves.
220 × 175 × 57 mm.
History
Provenance and Acquisition
Three manuscripts - CUL MS Nn.3.14, CUL MS Nn.3.15 and CUL MS Nn.3.17 - all belonged to the physician Richard Mead (1673-1754) , who bought them on Mount Athos or from a dealer with access to Mt Athos monasteries (see CUL Nn.3.15). The original manuscript, made up of the parts now spread across the three classmarks, seems to have been divided before Mead bought it.
The manuscripts later entered the library of Anthony Askew (1722-1774) , physician and book collector.
After Askew's death, the manuscripts were sold by G. Leigh and J. Sotheby in the auction of his library in 1785 (Nn.3.14 Lot. n. 569), and eventually bought by Richard Farmer for Cambridge University Library. The University of Cambridge general bookplate (engraved by William Jackson in 1706-1707) was added on the front pastedown.
Part 1 [Cambridge, University Library, MS Nn.3.14, ff. 1r-121v]
Contents
Language(s): Greek
TLG 5023.010
TLG 5023.014
Extensive scholia and interlinear glosses in red ink accompany the text.
Ff. 15r-15v have been added and written by Matthaeus Camariota, because of a loss of a leaf
The tragedy is repeated in the second part of the manuscript, ff. 122r-151v.
TLG 0006.040
Followed by the list of characters of the play.
TLG 5023.015
Extensive scholia and interlinear glosses in red ink accompany the text.
The tragedy is repeated in the second part of the manuscript, ff. 154r-207v.
TLG 0006.049
Followed by the list of characters of the play on lower margin of f. 78r
TLG 5023.016
Loss of text between f. 85v (ends l. 333: ἐπ’ αὐτόχειρά τε σφαγὰν ὑπὲρ τέραμνά) and f. 86r (starts l. 377: σκότον δεδορκώς; τί δὲ κασίγνηται δύο), as indicated by a note on lower margin of f. 85v: deest fol. (see Smith 1970, p. 31).
TLG 0006.048
The text continues on CUL Nn.3.17.1 f. 1r.
TLG 4141.001
Physical Description
Collation
Part I of the manuscript consists of 17 quires:
- Quire 18-2 ff. 1-6;
- Quires 2-98 ff. 7-70;
- 108-1 ff. 71-77;
- 112 ff. 78-79;
- 126 ff. 80-85 (now a senion, with one page lost and loss of text);
- 13-168 ff. 86-117;
- 178-4 ff. 118-121.
An early quire signature in Greek numerals, in dark brown ink, survives on quire 2 (f. 14v lower margin: ιε'); traces of quire signature, mostly lost to trimming, survive on quires 5 (f. 38v: ιη') 8 (f. 62v: κα') 9 (f. 70v: κβ'), probably original to the production of the manuscript (see Smith 1970, p. 29-31 on original quire signatures in CUL Nn.3.15.1, CUL NN.3.14 and CUL Nn.3.17.1).
Condition
In fair general condition. Leaves are yellow with age; there are extensive stains and worm holes.
The ruling almost cut the leaves, especially near the gutter, or caused cuts between the main text and the external margin (e.g. f. 59).
Tears are present on ff. 68 and 105.
Layout
Ff. 1r-121v: written space 170 × 70 mm. Scholia and prefatory materials that accompany the main texts have a very variable number of lines per page, and are arranged in a orderly manner.
Hand(s)
Hand A: ff. 1r-121v
The main texts are written in a mixed minuscule in an upright, scribal hand, in brown ink script.
There is a marked variation in letter size. Syllabic abbreviations and superscript word endings are rare, and usually appear only at the end of lines. Breathings are curved and mute iota is rarely used.
The small majuscules beta, gamma, eta, kappa and phi are present. Gamma and tau are often high. The majuscule beta has a curled bilobate shape, and epsilon is both regular minuscule and lunate. The sigma telikon is not present.
Phi-rho ligature is in two strokes and overlapping. Ligatures of tau with alpha or omicron are from the bottom, in a characteristic Z-shape.
Punctuation used includes the middle and upper point, lower comma and full stop.
Tails are occasionally flourished into the lower margins.
The same hand has written the interlinear glosses in red ink.
This hand is present in CUL Nn.3.15.1 (ff. 50r-75v, 76v-114r) and CUL Nn.3.17.1 (ff. 1r-88v), and designated as Hand B of the original manuscript (see Günther 1995).
Hand B: Ioannes Zeianos: ff. 1r-2r, Hypothesis on Hecuba and scholia.
The names of Ioannes Zeianos (PLP n. 6156) appears on CUL Nn.3.15.1, f. 89r and CUL Nn.3.17.1, f. 60v, as owner of the original manuscript. He is also designated as Hand C of the original manuscript (see Günther 1995)
His hand presents the main characteristics of the Fettaugen mode, performed with order and clarity, with numerous inclusions, large letters combined with others of smaller module.
On the identity of Ioannes Zeianos, see Smith 1992, p. 223-225.
Hand C: Matthaeus Camariota : ff. 15r-v, replacement.
The 15th-century erudit Matthaeus Camariota (RGK I 269) replaced one lost folio.
Hand D: ff. 32v-33r, ff. 77r-77v
The hypotheses on Orestes and on Phoenician Women are written in a mixed minuscule in an upright, scribal hand, in brown ink script.
There is a marked variation in letter size. Syllabic abbreviations and superscript word endings are common. Breathings are curved and mute iota is rarely used.
It seems to follow the same model as Zeianos, but in a very small size and with a much lower number of ligatures. The transcribed folios have a yellow grid above the writing.
This hand is present in CUL Nn.3.15.1 and CUL Nn.3.17.1, and designated as Hand D of the original manuscript (see Günther 1995).
Decoration
The beginning of the texts on ff. 1r, 33v and 78r are preceded by rectangular headpieces or vegetative ornament in red ink.
The texts on ff. 1r, 2v, 33v and 78r begin with an enlarged ornamental initial, outlined in red ink. Some initials are more ornate, with vegetative motives.
Thick red-ink initials mark the start of a new work or argument, and of most of the scholia.
History
The manuscript was located at the Dionysiou Monastery of Mount Athos, and thanks to the name of Zeianos and the textual characteristics, it is possible to assume that it arrived there from Thessaloniki, and that it was produced in the scriptorium of Demetrius Triclinius , or in a scriptorium connected with him.
The characteristics of the script and the watermarks suggest that it was produced during the early 14th century, probably before 1325.
Part 2 (sometimes designated as Nn.3.14.2 in bibliography) [Cambridge, University Library, MS Nn.3.14, ff. 122r-209v ]
Contents
Language(s): Greek
Interlinear glosses accompany the text intermittently.
TLG 0006.040
Followed by the list of characters of the play.
TLG 5023.015
Followed by the list of characters of the play.
TLG 5023.015
Scholia and interlinear glosses accompany the text.
TLG 0006.049
Defective at the end
TLG 0087.002
Physical Description
Collation
Part II of the manuscript consists of 11 quaternions: quires 18-288 ff. 122-209
Quire signatures in Greek numerals, in dark brown ink, survive on quires:
- 19 (f. 130r top margin, right corner: μα);
- 23 (f. 169v lower margin: με);
- 24 (f. 170r top margin: μϛ);
- 25 (f. 178r top margin: μζ);
- 28 (f. 202r top margin: ν).
Traces of quire signatures, mostly lost to trimming, survive on quires:
- 20 (f. 138r top margin: μβ);
- 21 (f. 146r: μγ);
- 22 (f. 154r: μδ);
- 23 (f. 162r: με);
- 27 (f. 194r: μθ).
Condition
In good general condition. Leaves are yellow with age and some stains.
Layout
Ff. 122r-151v, ff. 154r-207v: written space 160 × 100 mm.
Ff. 153r-v: written space 170 × 105 mm.
Ff. 208r-209r: written space 160 × 120 mm.
Hand(s)
Hand A: ff. 122r-151v, ff. 154r-207v
The main texts are written in a mixed minuscule in an upright script, in brown ink.
This hand shows cursive-like ductus which becomes more poised from f. 169v. It is distinguished by a marked variation in letter size and several majuscule letters (beta, gamma, delta, eta, lambda, pi, phi), often enlarged, as well as the omega. The majuscule beta has a large bilobed shape, and the tau, in large dimension, has a loop shape. The ligatures are frequent, and those with omega or alpha are from the bottom.
Syllabic abbreviations and superscript word endings usually appear only at the end of lines, but occasionally elsewhere.
Tails are occasionally flourished into the lower margins
Hand B: ff. 153r-v.
The Hypothesis on Orestes is written in mixed minuscule in an upright script, in brown ink.
This hand has a poised ductus. Based on the model of the Hand A, it is more tidy and airy. It has the same capital letters and characteristic shapes.
Hand C: ff. 208r-209r.
The text of Herodianus is written in a mixed minuscule which shows a poised ductus, and seems to be based on the model of the Hand B, but Hand C does not use the characteristic shapes for beta and tau.
History
Additional Information
Record Sources
Availability
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Bibliography
-
A Preliminary Skeleton List of the Manuscripts
of Euripides The Classical Quarterly, Spranger, J. A. (33, 2, 98-107, 1939)
The Byzantine manuscript tradition of the
tragedies of Euripides, Turyn, Alexander (Urbana, University of Illinois Press, 1957)
Notes and observations on some manuscripts of
the scholia on Aeschylus Classica et mediaevalia, Smith, Ole Langwitz (31, 14-48, 1970)
Observations on the activities of the Byzantine
grammarians of the Palaeologian era. II, the impact of
Thomas Magistros's introductory matter (Vita, hypotheseis)
to the Euripidean Triad (including an excursus on
Copenhagen, Gamle Kongelige Samling 3549, 8°), Schartau, Bjarne (Odense, Odense University Press, 1973)
Studien zur Textüberlieferung der Hekabe des
Euripides, Matthiessen, Kjeld (Heidelberg, C. Winter, 1974)
On the Problem of a Thoman Recension of
Aristophanes Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Studies, Smith, Ole Langwitz (17, 1, 75-80, 1976)
Anthony Askew's "Liber amicorum" Transactions of the Cambridge Bibliographical
Society, Stubbings, Frank (6, 5, 306-321, 1976)
Griechische Kodikologie und
Textüberlieferung, Harlfinger, Dieter (Darmstadt, Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, 1980)
Repertorium der griechischen Kopisten,
800-1600. I. Grossbritannien Veröffentlichungen der Kommission für
Byzantinistik ;, Gamillscheg, ErnstHarlfinger, Dieter (Wien, Bd. 3, Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie
der
Wissenschaften, 1981)
The textual tradition of Euripides'
Phoinissai, Mastronarde, Donald J (Berkeley, University of California Press, 1983)
Tricliniana II Classica et mediaevalia, Smith, Ole Langwitz (43, 187-229, 1992)
The manuscripts and the transmission of the
Paleologan scholia on the Euripidean triad, Günther, Hans Christian (Stuttgart, Franz Steiner Verlag, 1995)
From Britain to Byzantium: the study of Greek
manuscripts Through the looking glass: Byzantium through
British eyes : papers from the twenty-ninth Spring Symposium
of Byzantine Studies, London, March 1995 Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies
publications, Easterling, P. E. (Aldershot, Ashgate, 2000)
A catalogue of works attributed to the
grammarian Herodian Classical Philology, Dickey, Eleanor (109, 4, 325-345, 2014)
Funding of Cataloguing
The Polonsky Foundation
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Abbreviations
View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.
