Western Medieval Manuscripts : Ephraem Syrus and moral texts

Western Medieval Manuscripts

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Nn.4.8 is a composite manuscript consisting of two original parts, containing mainly texts of <i>Ephraem Syrus and moral texts</i>. The second part (ff. 81-172) is noteworthy being a palimpsest, but the CUL 19th-century catalogue failed to notice this because of the low quality of the parchment and the darkness of the upper layer of script. The original ruling of the lower layer of script is markedly visible throughout the second part and perpendicular to the upper text, but the lower text is visible only on <a href='' onclick='store.loadPage(343);return false;'>ff. 168r-169v</a>: Natalia Tchernetska in 2002 recognised a fragment of Gregory of Nazianzus in the lower text.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Both parts are examples of low quality manuscripts for personal use; the first part and the upper script of the second part were written in the 13th or 14th century, in the second part, the lower text dates from the 8th or 9th centuries. </p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dr Matteo Di Franco</p>