e-codices Newsletter

Issue n^o 40 - 29 July 2019

In this issue:

1. The Greek works of Athanasius of Alexandria : Master for the editio princeps
2. Bernese fragments

The e-codices newsletter provides information about the latest updates, highlights, and activities of our project. We are delighted to count you among our readers!

The e-codices team

Find us on Facebook

1. The Greek works of Athanasius of Alexandria : Master for the editio princeps

This composite manuscript consists of three volumes (1, 2, 3) for a total of over 1000 pages. It transmits more than 30 works by Athanasius of Alexandria (296/8-373) or works that were attributed to him, often in several versions. The texts were copied in the 16th century, perhaps on the initiative of Theodore Beza (1519-1605), in order for Peter Felckmann to prepare the first printed edition of the works of Athanasius in Greek, which was published in 1600-1601 by Commelin in Heidelberg. As the direct master for the editio princeps, this manuscript is of great historical importance. In addition to the textual variants identified by Felckmann, it also contains annotations by early modern editors with typographic signs and line counts for preparing the printed edition.

2. Bernese fragments

Two recently published fragments show off fascinating treasures hidden in the Burgerbibliothek Bern’s Jacques Bongars fragment collection. The first fragment, a quire of 8 leaves that probably originated in the circle of John Scotus Eriugena, contains some previously unknown exegetical texts on the Gospels. The second fragment consists of 8 leaves from a large-format manuscript that has long been associated with Theodulf of Orléans. It is actually a quire from Theodulf’s composite manuscript of biblical exegesis, which had until now been thought lost; its remaining parts are contained in MS Paris, BN lat. 15679. Thanks to a partially erased note of ownership, it can be demonstrated that this fragment once was the property of the Abbey of Saint-Mesmin, Micy.