Western Medieval Manuscripts : Michael Psellos

Western Medieval Manuscripts

<p style='text-align: justify;'>The manuscript contains two small philosophical treatises by the Byzantine polymath <i>Michael Psellos</i>: the first deals with the creation of the souls in Plato; the second with the Chaldaean Oracles, a set of texts belonging to the mystical tradition, which carry revelations from the Gods. </p><p style='text-align: justify;'>The manuscript was copied by the Greek scribe Iakobos Diassorinos, who was librarian of Fontainebleau Palace library around the middle of the 16th century. He made several copies of these texts: both texts are present in manuscripts <a target='_blank' class='externalLink' href='https://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-TRINITY-O-00001-00032/1'> Cambridge, Trinity College, O.1.32</a> and <a target='_blank' class='externalLink' href='https://digi.vatlib.it/mss/detail/Barb.gr.38'> Città del Vaticano, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Barb. gr. 38</a>; and the <i> Expositio brevis de dogmatis Assyriorum</i> was transcribed by him in MS El Escorial, Real Biblioteca, Φ.II.11. </p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dr Erika Elia</p>