Medieval and Early Modern Greek Manuscripts : Nicetas of Herakleia

Medieval and Early Modern Greek Manuscripts

<p style='text-align: justify;'> The manuscript contains the Commentary on the orations of Gregory of Nazianzus by the Byzantine theologian <i> Nicetas of Herakleia</i> (ca. 1050-after 1117). </p><p style='text-align: justify;'> It is formed by two contemporary parts, both containing the commentary with the text of two different sets of orations. The parts are distinguishable on the basis of the script, the watermarks of the paper, the layout and the quires' numbering (which in part II starts again from no. 1). </p><p style='text-align: justify;'> Part I (ff. vii-xi, 1-291) was copied by a group of seven scribes, who constantly alternate in the copying of the text. Among them there is Nikolaos Choniates, a well known scribe and dealer of manuscript from Monemvasia, who was active in Italy in the second half of the 16th century, where he was the head of a prolific <i> atelier</i>. In this manuscript Choniates seems to have a sort of guide role: he started the copying and realized the majority of the rubrics. Among the scribes who copied the texts with him in this manuscript there are also some of his known collaborators, such as Iohannes Chonianos (see Gamillscheg 1980). </p><p style='text-align: justify;'> Part II (ff. 292-525) was copied by three hands: two of them are found also in part I, Nikolaos Choniates and hand C. The third is another well-known prolific scribe and dealer of manuscripts of the 16th century, Andreas Darmarios, who copied the beginning of the text, some rubrics and titles.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'> The fact that some scribes worked in both parts (Nikolaos Choniates and hand C), and that the rubrics in both refer to the parts as a "first" and "second book", suggest that probably, although copied independently, the parts of this manuscript were conceived to be together.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'> Dr Erika Elia</p>