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

MS. Holkham Gr. 87

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

Diktyon no.: 48155

Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus with selective marginal notes and glosses in Latin

Contents

1. (fol. iv)

tit. SOPHO|CLIS| POESIS

Language(s): Latin
2. (fol. iv(v))

Dramatis personae, tit. ΤΑ ΤΟΥ ΔΡΑΜΑΤΟΣ ΠΡΟΣΩΠΑ

Language(s): Greek
3. (fols 1r-51r)
Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus

The verses are not numbered.

Language(s): Greek

Selective marginal notes and glosses in Latin, especially in the earlier pages.

Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: Paper. Watermark: two types of eagles.
Extent: : iv + 51 leaves + (i-iii foliated as 52–54 (ult.)
Dimensions (leaf): 226 × 160 mm.

Collation

1 × 2–1 (i), 1 × 2 (iii), 4 × 4 (16), 1 × 4–1 (19), 8 × 4 (51), 1 × 2 (53), 1 × 2–1 (54).

Layout

18 lines per page.

Hand(s)

One unprofessional Italian hand.

Decoration

fol. iv (r): Elementary decorative sign accompanies the title in Latin.

Additions: fol. 1v (newer hand, 19th c. in pencil): 52–53-leaves; fol. iiv (the same hand in pencil): Sophocles / Oedip. Col.– MS

Binding

Holkham binding of green 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: / SOPHOCLES/ŒDIP./COL. / in pasted black leather: MS. /HOLKHAM/ Gr. 87.

History

Origin: 16th century ; Italy

Provenance and Acquisition

The terminus post quem is 1502. The scribe copied the text from the Aldine edition (Σοφοκλέους τραγωδίαι ἑπτὰ μετ᾽ ἐξηγήσεων. Sophoclis tragaediae septem cum commentariis, Venice, 1502) as proved by A. Turyn, Studies in the manuscript tradition of the Tragedies of Sophocles, Urbana, 1952, p. 199.

Ownership Notes: fol. iiir (top, right in brown ink): signature of Th(oma)s William Coke.

Old Catalogue Nrs: paste down (in pencil): MS. Holkham Gr. 87; fol. 1(v) (in pencil): MS. Holkham Gr. 87; fol. iir: No 269 271, CD2B4. Olim Holkham Hall, Libr. of the Earl of Leicester, 271

Record Sources

Description by Dimitrios Skrekas (2020), 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

2020-08-20: New description by D. Skrekas.