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MS. Holkham Gr. 67

Summary Catalogue no.: Not in SC (late accession)

Diktyon no.: 48135

Georgios Kedrenos, Chronicle

Contents

Language(s): Greek

(fols. 1r–531v)
Georgios Kedrenos, Chronicle,

des. mut. ἦσαν δὲ ταῦτα πάντα σκηνὴ ὡς. The text is to be found in three different editions which contain the text of Kedrenos and that of Skylitzes: ed. I. Bekker, Georgius Cedrenus Ioannis Scylitzae opera, vol. 1, Bonn 1838, pp. 3–802 to vol. 2, Bonn 1839, pp. 3–635. I 18; L. Tartaglia, Georgii Cedreni Historiarum Compendium, Bollettino dei Classici. Supplemento 30, vols 2, Rome, 2016, pp. 71–792; ed. J. Thurn, Ioannis Scylitzae synopsis historiarum, Berlin, 1973, pp. 5. 4–498. ch. 12. 30. Tartaglia’s edition ends with the text on fol. 310v, while Thurn covers the text thereafter. The prooimion of Skylitzes is not given in our MS.

Notable differences and lacunae if compared with the three edition’s: Bekker (B), Tartaglia (T) and Thurn (Th):

1. (fol. 8r)

lacuna after ἐτῶν χιλί(ων) ἑξακοσί(ων) ὀγδοήκοντα ἑπτά· ὃ καὶ ἔφθασεν εἰς τὸ τετρακισχιλιοστὸν ἑβδομηκοστὸν] ἐτῶν χιλίων ἑξακοσίων ὀγδοήκοντα ἑπτά .... (B vol. 1. 25. 7), ἐτῶν ιαχπζ´· ὃ καὶ ἔφθασεν εἰς τὸ ιδοη´ ἔτος (T, p. 88, 16.1); text resumes on fol. 9v: ἕως Μαστουσίας (B vol. 1. 25.8; Τ, p. 92. 16. 112).

2. (fol. 113v)

βασιλείας ἐμο⟨νάρχησεν⟩ βασιλείας ἐμονάρχησεν Αὔγουστος (B. vol 1. 320.13; T. p. 344, 211. 1. 4; text resumes on fol. fol. 115r: …]δωλεῖον κατεσκεύασεν] εἰδωλεῖον κατεσκεύασεν (B. vol. 1, 323.13; T. p. 347. 214. 4.20).

3. (fol. 429v)

lacuna after σάρῳ ποταμῷ ὡς δοκεῖν, B vol. 2, 362. 5, Th. p. 269, 12. 6; text resumes with ἡ Ταρσὸς τὸ Παγρὰς (B vol. 2, 364. 23; Th. p. 271, 16. 5).

4. (fol. 519v)

lacuna after μή τις λαθὼν ἀπὸ (MS), μή τις λαθὼν διαδράσειε, καὶ (Β) vol. 2, 598. 4; μή τις λαθὼν ἀποδράσειε (Th) p. 468, 22. 28; text resumes with μοῖραν ἄχρι τῶν κατασυρτῶν , (B vol. 2, 603. 7; Th p. 472, 24. 13).

Fols. 8v, 114r, 121v, 523–533 blank.

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: paper
ii + 533 leaves
Dimensions (leaf): 295 × 200 mm.

Collation

1 × 8 (8), 1 × 8–1 (15), 7 × 8 (71), 1 × 10 (81), 4 × 8 (113), 1 × 2–1 (114), 1 × 6 (120), 1 × 2–1 (121), 40 × 8 (440), 2 × 6 (452), 3 × 8 (477), 1 × 8–1 (484), 1 × 8 (492), 1 × 6 (498), 2 × 8 (514), 1 × 6 (520), 1 × 8 (528), 1 × 4–1 (531), 1 × 2 (533). Quire markings in Greek in the beginning and/or end of almost all gatherings (α΄ on fol. 1r was probably covered when repaired, and the sequence starts with β and goes up to ξη΄).

Layout

31 lines per page.

Hand(s)

One scribe throughout the codex.

Additions:

Various comments on the content of the text by the copyist throughout the MS. Also:

fol. 9r: ὅπου εὔρωμεν τὴν ἀράδαν του ἐναρ μέλει βοηθεῖν.

fol. 14v: pen trial: βηθοὺ ανεκαληψε πιθμαινα και δια ξειρας εκίους ελκι εν αυτο κατακαληψας αντηπάλους ο κραταιος εν πολαιμις (Heirm. of the 1st Ode of the Theophany Canon, Cosmas the Melodist, Menaion Rome ΙΙΙ, 146, Βυθοῦ ἀνεκάλυψε πυθμένα).

fol. 15v: signature of Παρθένιος and other notes on margin: i) των μεν ετεὶχούν τοῦ πά(ν)τες δείχη τοῦ δε διχνυτου ου δημτον ου γενετ(αι); ii) ας κατεβαση τω ποταμι και επιραι τ(αι)ς μεγάλαις πετρες τον ηστω μοναστειρ(ι)ν / την στενει και τεθλημένην οδον. // pen trial: δους γυναῖκα εἰς χίον αποστελει γεναται ουν εξ αυτεις βασιλει(ος) υστερον παραιχορεισε καδμος ως αυτου μ(ε)τ(ὰ) τειρεσιου γεν.( = vol. 1, 43. 1–3).

fol. 113v: … λείπει] τόδε δεκάτῳ πέμπτω τὸ πρῶτον φύλλον

fol. 122r: λείπει ἐδῶ τέτραδ(ον) δεκάτω πέμπτω: τὸ ὕστερον φύλλον

fol. 255r: mathematical calculations on the margin with different ink (brown).

fol. 434v: +ἣς δώξα: χ(ριστὸ)ς ἀμί ἐπείη τοὺς ζρκεη : πό: χ(ριστὸ)ς κατάβασἑος ἡ· γη· λστ ο πα πν(έυματ)ι παρθένηος

fol. 469r: λείπει ἐδῶ τέτραδ(ον) (crossed out).

fol. 504v: + εἰς δόξα Χ(ριστὸ)ς (the ink was faded)

fol. 530r: ἐπὰν ἡ βρεθῆ ἕ(τε)ρον (crossed out).

fol. 531r: ἐβάλθη ἀλλὰ νὰ μὴν εὔρωμεν ἕτερον

Binding

Typical Holkham binding of brown leather, with Coke family ostrich crest in gilt in the centre of the upper cover; Date: early nineteenth century. Rebound by John Jones of Liverpool (worked for Holkham 1816–1823. The spine lettered in gilt: /GEORG. CEDRENI/COMPENDIUM/HISTORIARUM/ AB ORIG. MUNDI/USQUE AD TEMPORA/ISAAC COMNENT/IMP. BYZANT./ M. CC. LVII./ GR.//; in pasted black leather: MS. /HOLKHAM/ Gr. 67/

History

Origin: 16th century

Provenance and Acquisition

Name of a certain Parthenios (17th c.) is written on fols 15v (as signature) and 434v alongside other notes. See marginalia.

Catalogue Nrs: 1st paste down in its verso (in the centre, in pencil): MS. Holkham Gr. 67; fol. i(r), in pencil: No 297 (sup lin 202) D6B1; A. E. Seidel sale 1718, no. 195. Olim Holkham Hall, Libr. of the Earl of Leicester, 297.

Record Sources

Description by Dimitrios Skrekas (2019), with the support of the Leventis Foundation, the Oxford Centre for Byzantine Research, the Yerolemou Trust and the Michael Marks Charitable Trust.

Bibliography

Abbreviations

View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.

Last Substantive Revision

2019-10-14: New description by Skrekas.