DATING GREEK MINUSCULE

MANUSCRIPTS

There is yet a surprising number of Greek New Testament manuscripts which

have not been fully analyzed as to their provenance or date. Many of them

have had their text-types ascertained (though often quite sporadically). Here on this page

I present some samples which can assist with dating the script of a

minuscule manuscript via comparison with

known dated samples.

Demonstrated manuscripts include, New Testament texts, lectionaries, Biblical

commentaries, writings of church fathers and other commonly produced manuscripts of

various scriptoriums (not typikons or menologia).

--- CLICK ON THE THUMBNAILS, ON THE RIGHT, TO VIEW IMAGES ---

--- IMAGES IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER ---

 

THE MANUSCRIPT, Date

SCRIPT SAMPLE

MS 461 (and uncial 018) --- DATE 835

 



461 . . . . .018 . . . read PDF

MS 1582 --- DATE 948/949

scribe --- a later colophon states scribe is: Ephraim

color and style of headpieces suggest a product of a Constantinopolitan scriptorium, as well as the style of script. Recently analyzed by Dr. Amy Anderson. I recently applied my mensuration method [types of measurements are presented here CLICK] and after the analysis, the results were clear, the same scribe wrote 1582 and 1739. In my estimation, 1582 was written somewhat earlier in the life of the scribe, Ephraim.

from Lake's "Dated Manuscripts..." (Luke 1) MS 1582

MS 1582, written by the same Ephraim of MS 1739

Psalms with Catena ----- DATE 950 MS Auct. D.4.1.

MS 424 ---- DATE 944 - 956

[Date is based upon the names of the patriarchs and emperors mentioned in its accessory materials]. Manuscript was made in Constantinople.

Chrysostom --- DATE 955

scribe --- Nicephorus the Notary

provenance --- uncertain, similar to Jerusalem (Sabas) MSS.

Princeton, Univ. Library. cod. Garrett 14

Gregory of Nazianzus - - - DATE 972

page from "Apolgetica" - TLG # 2022-016.

sample from the British Library (which has the entire manuscript available for viewing, Add MS 18231). This MS also contains several other documents by other church fathers. A very educational MS, professionally executed, appears to be of a Constantinopolitan origin. Not all folios have marginal text.

On the BL website, viewers can zoom-in to achieve good resolution, my upper sample is not zoomed-in and is thus very low resolution.

folio 105v

Detail of 105v: British Library 18231

Chrysostom --- DATE 976

Bodleian Library, Laud. MS Gk. 75

 

 MS 619 ---- DATE 984

 via CSNTM.org
»562 ------ DATE 991
Homilies of John Chrysostom ---- DATE 995 Dionysiou codex 70,
MS 910 ---- DATE 1009
MS 1734 --- DATE 1015
MS 348 --- DATE 1023
MS 504 --- DATE 1033
MS 623 ---- DATE 1037

MS 81 --- DATE 1044

sample image from the British Library, which institution has only a portion of this MS.

MS 1933 --- DATE 1045
»1692 ---- DATE 1059 Dionysiou 587; Note P. Canart's "epsilon arrondi"
MS 1209 --- DATE 1067
Theodoret on the Prophets ---- DATE 1067 MS Auct. T.2.2

MS 1871 --- DATE 1083

color image via the efforts of the Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts; Dallas, Texas.

MS 1521 --- DATE 1084
Theodore Studites ---- DATE 1086 Sinai Cod. 401

MS 104 ---- DATE 1087

First image from 35mm film, second from the British Library's site, which has nice sharp color images, but you cannot print or save them.

MS 909 ---- DATE 1107

color image via the efforts of the Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts; Dallas, Texas. www.CSNTM.org

text: I Cor. 14:27-37
MS 2622 ---- DATE 1109

Commentary on Matthew --- DATE 1109

Corpus Christi College, MS 25. Note P. Canart's "epsilon arrondi".

MS 203 --- DATE 1111
»868 ---- DATE 1118/1119 Sinai Cod. 234
Psalter ---- DATE 1121/1122 Sinai Cod. 44
MS 1195 ---- DATE 1123
MS 1230 --- DATE 1124
MS 1194 ---- DATE 1127/1157 Sinai, Gr. 157
MS 157 --- DATE 1128/1129 best image I can get at this time :-(

MS 927 --- DATE 1133

scribe --- Theoktistes

provenance --- probably a scriptorium in Constantinople

One of 5 illuminations, this of Luke - folio 69v. MS is now, MS Ludwig II 4; 83.MB.68 of the J. Paul Getty Museum.
MS 1152 --- DATE 1133
Gregory of Nazianzus ---- DATE 1136/1155 Sinai Cod. 339
Simeon Stylites (Jr.) ---- DATE 1141 MS. Rawlinson G. 199
»1033 ----- DATE 1152
MS 162 ---- DATE 1153 same scribe as MS 1361. Note P. Canart's "epsilon arrondi".
MS 1361 --- DATE 1156 same scribe as MS 162. Note P. Canart's "epsilon arrondi".

MS 439 ---- DATE 1159

sample from the British Library website, which has the entire MS available for viewing.

folio 110r, Luke 1
MS 747 --- DATE 1164
»854 ----- DATE 1167
»855 ---- DATE 1175 Sinai, Cod. 221
MS 688 ---DATE 1179
»330 ----- DATE 1185
MS 1217 --- DATE 1187
MS 1238 --- DATE 1244
MS 1201 --- DATE 1250
MS 390 ---- DATE 1282
MS 1213 --- DATE 1286
MS 165 ---- DATE 1292
MS 645 --- DATE 1304/1305
MS 2085 --- DATE 1308
Psalter ---- DATE 1313 Dionysiou 65
MS 2278 --- DATE 1314/1315
MS 1922 --- DATE 1318
MS 1506 --- DATE 1320
MS 492 --- DATE 1325/1326
MS 2060 --- DATE 1330/1331
MS 1336 --- DATE 1332 a bit degraded!
MS 686 --- DATE 1337

MS 201 --- DATE 1357

sample image from the British Library's website, which site has the entire MS available for viewing.

MS 1960 --- DATE 1366

MS 1147 --- DATE 1370

scribe --- Joasaph

color image via the efforts of the Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts; Dallas, Texas. www.CSNTM.org

Note MS 1960 and MS 1147 by same scribe, Ioasaph (or Joasaph or Joseph)

MS 1929 --- DATE 1387 on paper

color image via the efforts of the Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts; Dallas, Texas. www.CSNTM.org

 

text: I Cor. 9:13-16 with commentary

 

Qui Dei dicit est maxime gravis; omnes ceterae formae congruens libri divini manu scriptus sunt secundara. What God says is most important; all other features of a Biblical manuscript are secondary.

 

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