Western Medieval Manuscripts : Quaestiones Convivales (Moralia 46 = Plan. 78) (defective at the end and with lacunae)

Plutarch

Western Medieval Manuscripts

<p style='text-align: justify;'> The manuscript Nn.2.39 contains a humanistic copy of the <i>Table-Talks</i> by the Greek essayist <i>Plutarch</i> of Chaeronea (ca. 46 - ca. 120 AD), known as Συμποσιακὰ προβλήματα or <i>Quaestiones Convivales</i> (Moralia 46 = Plan. 78). The manuscript was copied at the end of 15th century or at the beginning of the 16th century by Petros Hypselas from Aegina, who was an associate of the scholar Demetrios Chalkondyles (ca. 1424-ca. 1511) in Florence, and after 1507 he taught Aristotle in Bologna as successor of Paolo Bombasios. The script is simple and clear, probably to meet the needs of Western readers. The copyist also shows that he is aware of the textual problems, and leaves some empty spaces in correspondence with the lacunae in the tradition. The manuscript was owned by the humanist Antonio Seripando (1476-1531), who inherited the library of Aulus Janus Parrhasius (1470-1522), and later entered into the collection of the English physician and book collector Anthony Askew (1722-1774). After his death, it was acquired by Cambridge University Library.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dr Matteo Di Franco</p>