Medieval and Early Modern Greek Manuscripts : Gregory of Nazianzus

Medieval and Early Modern Greek Manuscripts

<p style='text-align: justify;'>This manuscript, probably copied in the 10th or 11th century, contains various orations, epistles, <i>carmina</i> by the Patriarch of Constantinople, <i>Gregory of Nazianzus</i>. The manuscript was quite a high-quality production, with a Pyle (<a href='' onclick='store.loadPage(5);return false;'>f. 1r</a>) decorated with a mosaic motif, elegantly written with its initials and original marginal annotations; nevertheless it has suffered damage due to use and time and the first and last folios are much damaged. In spite of the importance of its contents, the spine bears an erroneous title.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'> The manuscript is divided into two sections corresponding to two <i>mises-en-page</i>. The first section (ff. <a href='' onclick='store.loadPage(5);return false;'>1r-326r</a>) is written in two columns and contains the texts of Gregory of Nazianzus. The second (ff. <a href='' onclick='store.loadPage(658);return false;'>326v-357v</a>) is written in a single column by the same hand as the first section and continues the text without interruption. Indeed, this section does not begin with a new quire but on the verso of the last folio in two columns (quire 41). This section contains additional commentary texts to Gregory of Nazianzus. On the last folio (ff. <a href='' onclick='store.loadPage(719);return false;'>357r-357v</a>) two texts were added after the production of the manuscript, in a strongly contracted script, now nearly illegible.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Previously owned by the Greek monastery of Pantokratoros on Mount Athos, the manuscript B.9.13 was bought by the classical scholar Richard Bentley and bequeathed to Trinity College after his death.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Dr Matteo Di Franco</p>