A catalogue of Western manuscripts at the Bodleian Libraries and selected Oxford colleges

MS. Holkham Gr. 71

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

Diktyon no.: 48139

Various works by Nikephoros Blemmydes, Michael Psellos, Nikomachos Gerasinos, Anatolios, Porphyry and Aristotle

Contents

Language(s): Greek

1. (fol. 1r)

Additional parchment leaf with table of contents in Latin and various ownership notes in Greek, see below. The Latin text was possibly written by Marcus Musurus (ca. 1470–1517). See M. Verhelst, Le “Traité de l'âme” de Nicéphore Blemmyde. Histoire du texte, édition critique, traduction et analyse du contenu doctrinal, vol. 1, Louvain, 1976, p. 74 (unpublished Ph D thesis) and E. Gielen, Nicephori Blemmydae De virtute et ascesi, Iosephi Racendytae De virtute (Corpus Christianorum, series graeca 80), Turnhout, 2016, p. xxxv

Language(s): Greek and Latin
2. (fols 2r-232v)

Nikephoros Blemmydes:

2.i. fols 2r-70v:
⟨Nikephoros Blemmydes⟩, ⟨Introductio I: Epitome logica⟩

PG 142. 688–1004;

2.ii. fols 70v-157v:
Nikephoros Blemmydes, Introductio II : Epitome physica

PG 142. 1021–1320;

2.iv. fols 165–175v:
Nikephoros Blemmydes, De virtute et ascesi,

ed. E. Gielen, Nicephori Blemmydae De virtute et ascesi, Iosephi Racendytae De virtute (Corpus Christianorum, series graeca 80), Turnhout, 2016, pp. 3–32;

2.v. fols 175v-185:
Nikephoros Blemmydes, De anima,

ed. D. Voulismas, Νικηφόρου Μοναστοῦ καὶ Πρεσβυτέρου τοῦ Βλεμμίδου ἐπιτομὴ λογικῆς … καὶ περὶ ψυχῆς καὶ ἀρετῆς καὶ ἀσκήσεως …, part III, Leipzig, 1784, pp. 29–48;

2.vi. fols 185–205v:
Nikephoros Blemmydes, Curriculum vitae I,

ed. J. Munitiz, Joseph, Nicephori Blemmydae Autobiographia sive curriculum vitae necnon Epistula universalior (Corpus Christianorum, series graeca 13), Turnhout, 1984, pp. 3–45;

2.vii. fols 204v-205v:
Nikephoros Blemmydes, Epistula universalior,

ed. J. Munitiz, pp. 91–94;

2.viii. fol. 205v:

Table of contents (being inserted by the scribe in the available space here): tit. Ἡ πυκτὶς αὕτη περιέχει ἐκτὸς τῶν ἐν τοῖς πίναξι διειλημμένων, ταῦτα. For the full text see ed. J. Munitiz, p. xiii;

2.ix. fols 206r-219r:
Nikephoros Blemmydes, Curriculum vitae II,

ed. J. Munitiz, pp. 47–83;

2.x. fols 219r-232v:
Nikephoros Blemmydes, De corpore,

ed. D. Voulismas, part III, Leipzig, 1784, pp. 1–29.

3. (fol. 233r-264v)
Michael Psellos, Synopsis legum, Iter Psellianum [1060], poema 8,

ed. L. G. Westerink, Michaelis Pselli poemata, Stuttgart, 1992, pp. 124–177.

4. (fols 265r-294r)
Nikomachos Gerasenos, Arithmetica introductio

With marginal comments and diagrams throughout: i) fols 265r-278v: Liber i, ed. R. Hoche, Nicomachi Geraseni Pythagorei introductionis arithmeticae libri ii, Leipzig, 1866, pp. 1–70 and ii) fols 278v-294r: Liber ii, ed. R. Hoche, pp. 73–147.

5. (fols 294–296v)
Anatolios (of Alexandria), De Denario,

ed. J. L. Heiberg, Anatolius. Sur les dix premiers nombres, Macon: Protat, 1901: pp. 5–16.

6. (fols 297r-310r)
Porphyry, Isagoge siue quinque uoces,

ed. A. Busse, Porphyrii isagoge et in Aristotelis categorias commentarium (Commentaria in Aristotelem Graeca 4.1), Berlin, 1887, pp. 1–22.

7. (fols 310r-349v)

Aristotle:

7.1. fols 310r-334v:
Aristotle, Categoriae,

ed. L. Minio-Paluello, Aristotelis categoriae et liber de interpretatione, Oxford, 1949 (repr. 1966): pp. 3–45 (Bekker 1a1–15b32);

7.ii. fols 335r-349v:
Aristotle, De interpretatione,

ed. L. Minio-Paluello, pp. 49–72 (Bekker 16a1–24b9).

8. (fol. 350v)

A diagram of the winds, tit. + Ἔκθεσις τῶν ἀνέμ(ων) ὅθεν ἕκαστο(ς) αὐτῶν ἔχει τ(ὴν) ἀρχ(ὴν) καὶ τίνα τ(ῶν) ἄλλ(ων) αὐτ(ῶν) ἐναντιοῦ(ν)ται

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: paper (fol. I parchment)
Extent: ii + 349 leaves (numbered as 2–351; fol. 191 has been displaced after fol. 192; fol. 264 has been omitted) + ii flyleaves at the end (numbered as fols 352 and 353).
Dimensions (leaf): 130 × 180 mm.

Collation

1 × 6 (8–2) (6), 12 × 8 (103), 1 × 3 (8–5) (106), 1 × 8 (114), 1 × 5 (8–3) 119), 1 × 7 (8 -1) 126), 1 × 8 (134), 1 × 5 (6 -1) (139), 1 × 5 (8–3) (144), 1 × 6 (8–5 +3, fols145, 146, 150, fols 147–149) (150), 1 × 7 (8–1) (157), 1 × 4 (161), 3 × 8 (185), 1 × 6 (8–2, fols 186, 187, 191, 188–190 (191), 1 × 8 ( -192/1) (200) 7 × 8 (256), 1 × 7 (8–1), (263), 1 × 8 ( -264/1) (272) 3 × 8 (296) 10 (306) 8 (314) 2 × 10 (334) 2 × 8 (350).

Layout

ca. 29–34 lines per page.

Hand(s)

Mainly written in Fettaugen style: A) fols 2r-106v, 115r-126v, 140r-146v, 150r-150v, 158r-242v; B) fols 233r-263v; C) fols 265r-296v; D) fols 297r-349v and 350v; E) Ἀνδρόνικος Κάλλιστος (15th c., fl. between 1476 and 1478), RGK I, n. 18. RGK II, n. 25, RGK III, n. 31, fols 107r-114v, 127r-139v, 147r-149v and 151r-157v.

Decoration

Various decorative head-pieces, preceding beginning of sections: fols 1v: (red ink); 70r, 158r, 206r, 219r (black ink); 233r, 265r, 279r, 294r (black and red ink); 297r (red ink). fol. 232v: the text ends in cruciform style.

Additions:

fol. 70r: another hand, not the main scribe added the following syllogism from Michael Psellos, Ἔφοδος σὐντομος καὶ σαφὴς τῆς εὑρέσεως τῶν συλλογισμῶν τῶν τριῶν σχημάτων τῆς λογικῆς πραγματείας τοῦ Ἀριστοτέλους γεγονυῖα παρὰ τοῦ ὑπάτου τῶν φιλοσόφων καὶ πατρικίου κυροῦ Μιχαὴλ τοῦ Ψελλοῦ, πῶς ὁφείλει εὑρίσκειν ὁ ζητῶν ἕκαστον αὐτῶν ὡς ἔχει τάξεως, ἤτοι ἐν πρώτῳ ἢ ἐν δευτέρῳ ἢ ἐν τρίτῳ σχήματι, Iter Psellianum [742] PHI. 19, ed. J. Duffy, Michaelis Pselli Philosophica Minora, vol. 1, Opuscula Logica, Physica, Allegorica, Alia, Opusc. 53, p. 237: γράμματα ἔγραψε γραφίδι τεχνικὸς:| +ἔγραψε· κάτεχε· μέτρον· ἄχολον:|+ἅπασι σθεναρός: ἰσάκις ἀσπίδι· ὁμαλός| φέριστος

fol. 232v: Monocondyle (in blank ink), interpreted possibly as: δόξα σοι| ὁ θ(εὸ)ς, see J. Munitiz, p. xix, fn. 11.

fol. 233r: Epigram in twelve syllables on the Holy Cross written in red ink, by the main scribe, and surrounds two simple crosses appended on the head piece: Σταυρὲ περιπόθητε τοῦ κόσμου κλέος· ἀπὸ πάσης ῥῦσαι με τοῦ διαβόλου/προσβολῆς πανσέβαστον τοῦ᾽μοῦ δεσπότου σκῆπτρων καὶ κραταίωμα πιστῶν ἁπάντων.

fol. 264v: (in red ink) + δόξα τῶ θ(ε)ῶ | τὸ τέλος πάντων| ἕνεκεν | ἀμὴν.| Also as monocondyle: τέλος τοῦ νομίμου.

fol. 279r: Κ(ύρι)ε Ἰ(ησο)ῦ Χ(ριστ)ὲ ὁ Θ(εὸ)ς ἡμ(ῶν) ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς.

fol. 350r: pen-trial on top: μέν ὅρους συ ὑπ(ά)ρχ(εις an ων)?

fols. 351r-351v: ink drawings, Italian? sketches 15th-16th c. with the head of Christ (fol. 351r) and the Virgin with Child, (fol. 351v).

Binding

Typical Holkham binding of brown leather, with Coke family ostrich crest in gilt in the centre of the cover; Date: early nineteenth century. Rebound by John Jones of Liverpool (worked for Holkham 1816–1823. The spine lettered in gilt: | NICEPHORI| ET| ALIORUM| OPERA| GR.–||M.S.| SÆC. XIV.|; in pasted black leather: MS. |HOLKHAM| Gr. 71

History

Origin: late 13th c.; 15th c. for replacement folios: 107r-114v, 127r-139v, 147r-149v and 151r-157v.

Provenance and Acquisition

Ownership Notes: 1st paste down on the verso (in the centre, in pencil): MS. Holkham Gr. 71. 663a. (bottom left) ???; fol. ir: (in pencil); Holk Cat. No. 90 103 CI B.18 ; Various ex-libris: i) fol. 1r: Ἀλβέρτου πίου καρπαί(ων) ἄρχοντ(ος) κτῆμα. = Alberto Pio of Carpi (+1531); in different hand at the end of page, d. 1553: Νῦν Κλαυδίου Βέτου καὶ τῶν φίλων αὐτῶν. ᾳφ,νγ´. = Claudio Betti, professor in Bologna (1520–1589), fol. 1v: Γεωργίου τοῦ Βάλλα ἔστι τὸ βιβλίον = humanist Giorgio Valla (1447–1500)

Old Catalogue Nrs: Olim Holkham Hall, Libr. of the Earl of Leicester, 103

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

Last Substantive Revision

2019-11-12: New description by Skrekas.