Laurentianus plut. 56.1 – L

Previous descriptions: Bandini (1764–1770 vol. 2, 289–94), but a recent and accurate description of the manuscript is provided in Stefec (2013, 126–30).

Reproductions: Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana

Siglum: L

Shelfmark: ​​Laurentianus plut. 56.1

Family: d¹

Date: Second half of the 12th century

Format: oriental paper, 305×128 mm, III + 253 ff.

Material: the state of preservation is quite good; many pages of the manuscript are slightly damaged by tears or humidity stains; the text is no longer legible everywhere without the use of a wood lamp.

Binding: –

Watermarks: none.

Scribes: Stefec (2013, 128) has identified several hands. A: ff. 1r–83v; B: ff. 84r–162v, this single scribe wrote the entire text of Pollux; C: ff. 163r–164r; D: ff. 165v–283v; E: ff. 284r–292v; F: ff. 165v note in the upper margin, marginal notes on ff. 13r, 171r, 172r, 173v, 180v, 192r, 194r, 197v, 216v, 226r, 240v, 248r, 264r, 275v–277r Michael ApostolisMichael Apostolis (RGK I 278 = II 379 = III 454); G: marginal note on f. 136v; H: marginal notes on ff. 6r, 7r and 206v Marcus MusurusMarcus Musurus (RGK I 265 = II 359 = III 433).

Annotations: on f. 136v, hand G (12th century) wrote: ἐν ὀνόματι τοῦ πατρὸς καὶ υἱοῦ καὶ ἁγίου πνεύματος καὶ τῆς κυρίως καὶ ἀληθῶς ὑπερευλογημένης δεσποίνης ἡμῶν τὸν τιμίων [. .] καὶ ζωοποιῶν σταυροῦ ἐπὶ τῆς βασιλ‹ε›ίας τοῦ εὐσεβεστάτου Ἰωάννου μεγάλου βασιλέως

Codicological unit 1

1 (ff. 1r–10r) Extracts from <Menander Rhetor>. Since the beginning is mutilated, the title is missing. Incipit: ]τοῦ θεοῦ παραβάλλων τῷ Ὀλυμπίῳ Διΐ (445.17 Spengel). Explicit: πανηγυρίσεις καὶ τὰ τοιαῦτα (413.4 Spengel). Inserted on ff. 8r l.22–9r there is an excerpt from <Alexander>, which corresponds to 555–8.15 Spengel. All this material is accurately described in Russell, Wilson (1981, XLI).

2 (f. 10r–v) Two brief treatises on harmonic canones: the first is entitled γενεθλιακός, the second κατατομὴ κανόνος κατὰ τοὺς Πυθαγορικούς. At the bottom of f. 10v there are two diagrams.

3 (ff. 11r–12v) <Paradoxographus florentinus, Mirabilia de aquis>. Title: κρῆναι καὶ λίμναι καὶ πηγαὶ καὶ ποταμοὶ ὅσοι θαυμάσιά τινα ἐν αὐτοῖς ἔχουσιν. Incipit: Κρήνη ἐν Ποτνίαις περὶ Θήβας (1). Explicit: Ἰσίγονος ἐν δευτέρῳ ἀπίστων (43). Edited in Giannini (1965, 316–28). On this text see Giacomelli (2021, 350–1) with a complete bibliography.

4 (ff. 12v–13r) De Nilo. Title: περὶ τῆς τοῦ Νείλου ἀναβάσεων. Incipit: Θαλῆς ὁ Μιλήσιος εἷς τῶν ἑπτὰ σοφῶν. Explicit: πρὸς τὴν ἄρκρον ἰέναι. Edited in Landi (1895, 538–40).

5 (ff. 13r–14v) De mulieribus. Title: γυναῖκες ἐν πολεμικοῖς συνεταὶ καὶ ἀνδρεῖαι. Incipit: Σεμίραμις θυγάτηρ μὲν ὥς φησι. Explicit: τῆς χώρας ἐβασίλευσεν. Edited in Landi (1895, 540–4) and also in Gera (1997, 6–11).

6 (ff. 14v–15v) Treatise on marvellous things. Title: τίνες οἶκοι ἀνάστατοι διὰ γυναῖκας ἐγένοντο. Incipit: ὁ μὲν Ἡρακλέους διὰ τὴν ἐπιγαμίαν. Explicit: ὑπομνήματα τῆς εὐορκίας. Edited in Landi (1895, 544–8).

7 (ff. 15v–19r) Certamen Homeri et Hesiodi. Title: περὶ Ὁμήρου καὶ Ἡσιόδου καὶ τοῦ γένους καὶ ἀγῶνος αὐτῶν. Incipit: Ὅμηρον καὶ Ἡσίοδον τοὺς θειοτάτους ποιητάς (1). Explicit: ἀνδρῶν ἡρώων κοσμήτορα θεῖον Ὅμηρον (338). Edited in Bassino (2019). This is manuscript L of the Certamen, one of the most important witnesses.

8 (ff. 19r–20r) <Aristoteles, Veterum heroum epitaphia>. A collection of epigrams related to the graves of Greek heroes. Title: π[ο]ῦ ἕκαστος τῶν Ἑλλήνων τέθαπται καὶ τί ἐπιγέγραπται ἐπὶ τῷ τάφῳ. Incipit: ἐπὶ Ἀγαμέμνονος κειμένου ἐν Μυκήναις. Explicit: θέσαν Κίκονες. Edited as Aristot. fr. 640 Rose.    

9(f. 20r) Epigram on Aristotle. Title: ὅτι ὁ Ἀριστοτέλης ἀπὸ τοῦ Ἀσκληπιοῦ κατήγετο. Edited in Cougny (1890, 295 n. 49).

10 (f. 20r) <Aristoteles, Epigramma in Platonem>. Title: ...]νοίας εἶχεν Ἀριστοτέλης πρὸς τὸν διδάσκαλον αὐτοῦ Πλάτωνα. Edited in Düring (1957, 133, ll. 6–7).

11 (ff. 20v–27r) Theophylactus Ochridensis, Liber de iis quorum Latini incusantur. Title: τοῦ μακαρίτου Βουλγαρίας κῦρ Θεοφυλάκτου προσλαλιά τινι τῶν αὐτοῦ ὁμιλητῶν περὶ ὧν ἐγκαλοῦνται Λατῖνοι. Incipit: ἐξῆλθε τὸ ἀξίωμά σου (247.1). Explicit: ᾧ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας ἀμήν (285.6). Edited in Gautier (1980, 247–85).

(ff. 27r–31v) Theophylactus Ochridensis, Oratio ad Alexium Comnenum. Title: τοῦ αὐτοῦ λόγος εἰς τὸν αὐτοκράτορα κῦρ Ἀλέξιον τὸν Κομνηνόν. Incipit: ἀνάγει μέν μοι (215.1). Explicit: καὶ τελεώτερος γένηται (243.13). Edited in Gautier (1980, 215–43).

(ff. 31v–37v) Theophylactus Ochridensis, Oratio ad Constantinum Ducam. Title: τοῦ αὐτοῦ λόγος εἰς τὸν πορφυρογέννητον κῦρ Κωνσταντῖνον. Incipit: δωρόν τοι καὶ ἐγώ (179.1). Explicit: ψυχικόν σοι στηρίζουσα (211.14). Edited in Gautier (1980, 179–211).

(ff. 37v–43r) Theophylactus Ochridensis, Oratio in adorationem crucis. Title: τοῦ ἁγιωτάτου ἀρχιεπισκόπου πάσης Βουλγαρίας κυροῦ Θεοφυλάκτου λόγος εἰς τὴν προσκύνησιν τοῦ τιμίου σταυροῦ ἐν τῇ μεσονηστίμῳ. Incipit: τί δαὶ ἡμεῖς ἐπὶ τῷ προκειμένῳ. Explicit: νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. Edited in MPG 126.105–29.

12 (ff. 43r–46v) Marcus Antonius Polemon, Declamationes (In Callimachum). Title: Πολέμωνος σοφιστοῦ ἐπιτάφιος εἰς Καλλίμαχον καὶ Κυνέγειρον (sic). Incipit: ἐπειδὴ τά τε ἄλλα χρή (1.1). Explicit: ὁ θέλων ἀποκοψάτω (1.49). Edited in Stefec (2016, 137–66). (ff. 46v–51v) Marcus Antonius Polemon, Declamationes (In Cynegirum). Title: εἰς τὸ ἐναντίον ὁ Καλλιμάχου πατήρ. Incipit: Τὸν μὲν τῆς πόλεως ἐπαινῶ νόμον (2.1). Explicit: καὶ τὸν μὲν Ἡρακλέους (2.64). Edited in Stefec (2016, 137–66).

13 (ff. 52r–81v) Gregorius Pardus, Commentarium in Hermogenis librum περὶ μεθόδου δεινότητος. Title: ἀπὸ τῆς ἐξηγήσεως τοῦ μητροπολίτου Κορίνθου εἰς τὸ περὶ μεθόδου δεινότητος τοῦ Ἑρμογένους βιβλίον. Incipit: σκοπός ἐστι τῷ Ἑρμογένει διδάξαι ἡμᾶς (1090.8). Explicit: καὶ ζητητικοὶ ἀναμεμιγμένοι εἰσίν (1352.13). Edited in Walz, Rhetores Graeci, vol. 7.2, 1090–1352.

14 (ff. 82r–83v) <Libanius, Argumenta orationum Demosthenicarum>. Title: ὑπόθεσις τοῦ περὶ μεγαλοπολιτῶν λόγου. It contains argumenta 15, 14, 28, 30–2 and 22. Edited in Foerster (1903–1927 vol. 8, 600–83).    

15 (f. 83r) List of the speeches by Demosthenes. Title: οἱ ἰδιωτικοὶ Δημοσθένους λόγοι εἰσὶν οὗτοι. Incipit: α´ ὁ κατὰ Νεαίρας. Explicit: ιδ´ κατὰ Ἁρπάλου.

Codicological unit 2

1 (ff. 84r–162v) Pollux, Onomasticon. This is a fragment of the work, consisting only of the following books: 5 (ff. 84r–92r), 6 (ff. 92r–108r), 8 (ff. 108r–125r), 9 (ff. 125r–141v), and 10 (ff. 141v–162v).

2 (ff. 163r–164r) A mathematical fragment. No title. Incipit: ἐὰν μέρη παραβαλεῖν. Explicit: ὀρθογώνιον μέσον ἐστί.

3 (f. 164r) A theological fragment on the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians (1Ep.Cor. 13.4 ffw.). Incipit: ἡ ἀγάπη μακροθυμεῖ. Explicit: τοὺς γινώσκοντας τὰ γινόμενα.

ff. 164v–165r: blank.

Codicological unit 3

1 (ff. 165v–283v) Polyaenus, Strategemata. Title: Πολυαίνου Στρατηγικά. Incipit: τὴν μὲν κατὰ Περσῶν (1.1.1). Explicit: αἱ δὲ θυγατέρες τῶν (8.71.1). The work is mutilated at the end. Preceded by a rubricated index on f. 165v. Edited in Melber, Woelfflin (1887).

2 (ff. 284r–292v) <Adamantius Judaeus, De ventis>. No title. Incipit: συμβαίνοντες ὄνειροι (29.1). Explicit: ἄρξομαι γράμματος (48,16). Edited in Rose (1864, 29–48).

The manuscript was brought to Florence from Crete by Ianus LascarisIanus Lascaris in 1492 (see Piccolomini 1874, 415; Speranzi 2013, 263). In Florence, Marcus Musurus used it as a model for his copy of Polienus’ Strategemata, manuscript Marc. gr. VII, 9Marc. gr. VII, 9; he also wrote – probably in the same period – two short notes on the text by Menander Rhetor (on ff. 6r and 7r). L then entered the Medicis’ private library, whose fate it shared, and was one among the Greek codices found in 1495 in Angelo PolizianoAngelo Poliziano’s house (see Piccolomini 1875, 108 and Speranzi 2013, 263).