Vaticanus Palatinus graecus 209 – D

Previous descriptions: Stevenson (1885, 105–8), but see the more accurate description by V. Gottlieb on the website of the Heidelberg University Library.

Reproductions: Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg

Family: d²

Siglum: D

Shelfmark: Vaticanus Palatinus graecus 209

Date: Middle of the 14th century

Format: paper, 220×145 mm, I + 287 ff.

Material: paper in a fair state of conservation. No loss of text.

Binding: not original, 18th century.

Watermarks: a flower, i.e. Mošin–Traljić 4284 (1348); a half globe surmounted by a cross, very similar to Mošin–Traljić 1825 (1353).

Scribes: it seems to me that a single scribe wrote the entire manuscript.

Annotations: on f. 62v there is a marginal note in the hand of Michael ApostolisMichael Apostolis (see Stefec 2014, 195); on ff. 277r and 277v a second and presumably later hand wrote a sentence in the Arabic alphabet in the margin.

Other: in the manuscript there are many drawings in the manuscript, mostly in the section containing Pollux’s Onomasticon. They were made by a later hand and have no relation to the text; as a matter of fact, their purpose seems to be purely decorative. They mostly depict men or angels fighting with dragons, monstrous and chimerical figures, or simply wild animals. They are very accurate and must have been made by a skilled illustrator.

1 (ff. 3r–53v) <Basilius Caesariensis, Epistulae>. Title: Εὐσταθίῳ φιλοσόφῳ ἀμοιβαία πρόσρησις ἐν ᾗ καὶ περὶ τῆς τύχης διασύρει δοξάριον. Incipit: ἀπειρηκότα με ἤδη (1.1). Explicit: κατὰ τὴν πρόρρησιν ἀπαντήσαντα (74.3). Edited in Courtonne (1966).

2 (ff. 54r–57v) Gregorius Nazianzenus, Epistulae. Title: Γρηγόριος τῷ μεγάλῳ Βασιλείῳ. Incipit: ἐγώ σε καὶ βίου καθηγητήν (58.1). Explicit: ἀγχίστειαν τοῦ αἵματος (103.5). Edited in Gallay (1967).

3 (f. 57v) Botanical definitions. Incipit: κοκκήμηλα καλοῦνται τὰ ἥμερα προῦμνα. Explicit: θερμαίνει τε ἱκανῶς.

4 (f. 58r) Short treatise on the cavities of the brain. Incipit: πόσας κοιλίας ἔχει ὁ ἐγκέφαλος. Explicit: τῶν ὄπισθεν μερῶν.

f. 58v: blank.

5 (ff. 59r–72v) Basilius Caesariensis, De legendis gentilium libris. Title: τοῦ ἐν ἁγίοις πατρὸς ἡμῶν Βασιλείου ἀρχιεπισκόπου Καισαρείας Καππαδοκίας τοῦ μεγάλου. πρὸς τοὺς νεοὺς πῶς ἂν ἐξ Ἑλληνικῶν ὠφέλοιντο λόγων. Incipit: πολλά με τὰ παρακαλοῦντα (1). Explicit: τὸν λογισμὸν ἀποφεύγοντες (10). Edited in Boulenger (1935).

ff. 73r–74v: blank.

6 (ff. 75r–77r) Excerpt from Eunapius, Vitae sophistarum. Title: Εὐαπίου ἐκ τοῦ βιβλίου τοῦ ἐγγεγραμμέννου βίοι σοφιστῶν. Incipit: Λιβάνιον Ἀντιόχεια μὲν ἤνεγκεν (16.1.1). Explicit: ἐπηρείᾳ τύχης συμβάντων (16.2.10). Edited in Giangrande (1956).

7 (ff. 77r–104v) Libanius, Declamationes. Title: Λιβανίου Σοφίστου πρεσβευτικὸς πρὸς τοὺς Τρῶας ὑπὲρ τῆς Ἑλένη. Incipit: εἰ μὲν ἐβούλετο Ἀλέξανδρος ὦ Τρῶες (2.1). Explicit: ἀκούσαντα μηκέτ’ εἶ τὸν Πάτροκλον (8.15). Edited in Foerster (1903–1927).

8 (ff. 104v–130r) Libanius, Epistulae. Title: Λιβανίου σοφιστοῦ ἐπιστολαί. Incipit: ἔμελλον γράφων δεήσεσθαί σου (1.1). Explicit: εἴχομεν τῷ τῆς γνώσεως κυρίῳ (215.4). Edited in Foerster (1903–1927).

ff. 130v–135v: blank.

9 (ff. 136r–163v) Albinus, Epitome doctrinae Platonicae. Title: Ἀλκινόου λόγος διδασκαλικὸς τῶν Πλάτωνος δογμάτων. Incipit: τῶν κυριωτάτων Πλάτωνος δογμάτων (1.1). Explicit: αὐτοῦ δογμάτων γενέσθαι (36.1). Edited in Louis (1945).

10 (ff. 163v–165r) <Theon, De utilitate mathematicae>. No title. Incipit: καὶ τοῦτο εἶναι τὸ σοφώτατον (99.18). Explicit: τῆς ἡμέρας μεταβάλλουσιν (104.19). Edited in Hiller (1878).

11 (ff. 165r–167v) Excerpt from <Diogenes Laërtius, Vitae philosophorum>. Title: ἑτέρα διαίρεσις. Incipit: τῶν ἀγαθῶν κατὰ Ἀριστοτέλην (3.80.865). Explicit: καθ’ αὑτὰ λέγεται τὰ δὲ πρός τι (3.109.1199). Edited in Dorandi (2013).

12 (ff. 167v–196r) <Eusebius, Praeparatio evangelica> Title: ὅτι καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς τῶν θείων γραφῶν ἐξηγήσεώς τε καὶ μαρτυρίας ὁ περὶ τῆς εἱμαρμένης ἐλέγχεται λόγος ἐκ τῶν Ὡριγένους. Incipit: περὶ τοῦ εἰς σημεῖα γεγονέναι τοὺς φωστῆρας (6.11.1). Explicit: διηγήσεται διὰ τούτων (4.14.10). Edited in Mras (1956).

(ff. 196v–198v): blank.

13 (ff. 199r–200r) Michael Psellus, Opuscula thelologica 38. Title: τοῦ Ψελλοῦ περὶ τοῦ διὰ τί εἰσιν οἱ ἄγγελοι πτερωτοὶ καὶ ἐστεμμένοι καὶ ἀνθρωπόμορφοι καὶ σφαῖραν ἐν ταῖς χερσὶ φέροντες, καὶ δι’ ἣν αἰτίαν μνήμην αὐτῶν ποιούμεθα τῇ β´ τῆς ἑβδομάδος ἡμέρᾳ, τῇ γ´ δὲ τοῦ προδρόμου καὶ τῶν καθ εξῆς ἄχρι τῆς ζ´. Incipit: Περὶ μὲν τοῦ ἀνθρωπομόρφους εἶναι τοὺς θείους ἀγγέλους. Explicit: καὶ τὸ θεῖον δι’ αὐτῶν ἐξιλάσκουσιν. Edited in Duffy, Westerink (2002).

14 (f. 200r–v) <Nemesius, De natura hominis>. No title. Incipit: ὅτι ἡ γῆ πιληθεῖα (5.49.13). Explicit: τὰ δὲ ἄνω καὶ πρὸς τῷ πυρὶ (5.49.21). Edited in Morani (1987).

15 (f. 200v) Short excerpts from <Symeon Metaphrastes>, MPG 115.245.46–9; <Iohannes Chrysostomus>, MPG 57.37.20–1; <Iosephus Flavius>, De Josepho 212–3; <Isidorus Pelusiota>, from Epistulae de interpretatione divinae scripturae 2.45 and 2.154, Ep. 1272 (edited in Évieux 1997); <Iosephus Flavius>, AJ 162–3; the gnomic saying ἀδέσποτόν τι χρῆμα ἡ ἀρετὴ, ἣν τιμῶν τὶς καὶ ἀτιμάζων, πλείον ἢ ἔλαττον ἕξει; <Clemens Alexandrinus>, Strom. 5.136.4.

16 (ff. 201r–203r) [Athanasius], Historia de Melchisedech. Title: τοῦ Ἀθανασίου ἀρχιεπισκόπου Ἀλεξανδρείας ἱστορία εἰς τὸν Μελχισεδεκ. Incipit: ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ. Explicit: ἅγιοι ἐπίσκοποι ἐν τῇ συνόδῳ ἀμήν. Edited in MPG 28.525–9.

17 (ff. 203r–204r) <[Athanasius], Sermo contra Latinos>. Title: τοῦ ἁγίου Κυρίλλου. Incipit: ἡ παναγία καὶ σεπτὴ Τριάς. Explicit: τῆς οὐσίας λόγον. Edited in MPG 28.824–32.

18 (f. 204r) Michael Psellus, De anima et mente. Title: τοῦ Ψελλοῦ. Incipit: νοῦς ἐστιν ἕξις ψυχῆς. Explicit: ἐντὸς οὐκ ἐξίσταται. Edited in O’Meara (1989).

19 (ff. 204r–211r) Gregorius Nyssenus, Epistula canonica ad Letoium. Title: τοῦ ἁγίου Γρηγορίου Νύσσης ἐκ τῆς πρὸς Λετόϊον ἐπισκοπῆς Μελιτινῆς κανονικῆς ἐπιστολῆς. Incipit: ἓν καὶ τοῦτο τῶν εἰς τὴν ἁγίαν ἑορτήν. Explicit: τῆς σῆς μεγαλοφυΐας. Edited in MPG 45.221–36.

20 (f. 211r–v) Treatise on the elements that make up the body. Title: ἐκ πόσων τὸ σῶμα στοιχείων καὶ ἡ ψυχὴ [±4]. Incipit: τετραμερές ἐστι τὸ σῶμα ἐκ τεσσάρων στοιχείων. Explicit: κατὰ τὸ αὐτοῦ μέτρον προβάλλεται. Still unedited. Follows an excerpt from [Zonaras] 1705.29–1706.1.

21 (ff. 212r–215r) Anastasius Sinaita, Sermo I in constitutionem hominis secundum imaginem Dei. Title: Ἀναστασίου πατριάρχου τῆς μεγάλης Ἀντιοχείας εἰς τὸ ποιήσαιμεν ἄνθρωπον καθ’ εἰκόνα. Incipit: οὐ μίαν τινὰ εἰκόνα. Explicit: τριαδικὸν πλήρωμα. Edited in Uthemann (1985).

22 (f. 215r–v) Title: τοῦ Χρυσοστόμου· ὅτι ἐπιστημονικὸς τῆς τοῦ καλοῦ καὶ κακοῦ γνώσεως ὁ ἄνθρωπος. Incipit: ὑπευχόμεθα ὑμῖν εἰπεῖν. Explicit: τοῦτο ὄνομα αὐτοῖς. Still unedited.

23 (ff. 215v–216v) Title: ἐκ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου εἰς τὸ κριτής τις ἦν ἔν τινι πόλει. Incipit: κριτὴν ἐνταῦθα καὶ πόλιν. Explicit: ἐκζητοῦσι δώσει ὁ θεός. Still unedited.

24 (ff. 216v–218r) Title: Κυρίλλου εἰς τὸ βάλετε εἰς τὰ δεξιὰ μέρη τοῦ πλοῖου τὸ δίκτυον. Incipit: ἡ θεωρία τοῦ διηγήματος ὡς ἐν βραχεῖ. Explicit: τῶν θείων χαρισμάτων ὁ χορηγός. Still unedited.

25 (f. 218r) Two gnomic sayings. Title: Πλάτωνος. Incipit: ἀδέσποτόν τι χρῆμα. Explicit: κακῶν γὰρ ὁ Θεὸς οὔποτε αἴτιος.

26 (f. 218r–v) [Flavius Claudius Iulianus, Epistula]. Title: Γάλλος καῖσαρ Ἰουλιανῷ ἀδελφῷ χαίρειν. Incipit: ἡ γειτνίασις τῆς χώρας. Explicit: σεβάσματι προσκυνεῖν χρή· ἔρρωσο. Edited in Cave Wright (1923 vol. 3, 288–90).

27 (ff. 218v–221v) Gregorius Nazianzenus, Epistulae 67, 195, 23, 178, 80. No title. Edited in Gallay (1967).

28 (ff. 221v–222v) Michael Psellus, Theologica op. 20. Title: τοῦ σοφωτάτου Ψελλοῦ εἰς τὸ θεολογικόν. Edited in Gautier (1989).

29 (ff. 224r‒262v) Pollux, Onomasticon. No title. The text, mutilated, is preceded by the Prefatory EpigramPrefatory epigram (Pollux). Incipit: ὦ παῖ πατρὸς ἀγαθοῦ (1.1). Explicit: λέγεται δέ τι καὶ (2.196). It covers Book 1 (ff. 224r–249r) and part of Book 2 (ff. 249r–262v).

30 (ff. 263r–266r) Excerpts from <Constantinus Manasses, Aristarchus et Callithea> and <Iohannes Laurentius Lydus, De mensibus>.    

31 (ff. 266r–278v) <Origenes, Philocalia>. Title: πρὸς τὸ μὴ ἐκκακεῖν ἐν τῇ ἀναγνώσει τῆς θείας γραφῆς τὸν μὴ συνιέντα τὸ σκοτεινὸν τῶν ἐν αὐτῇ αἰνιγμάτων καὶ παραβολῶν. ἀπὸ τῆς κʹ ὁμιλίας τῆς εἰς τὸν Ἰησοῦν τὸν Ναυῆ. Incipit: ἡ μὲν ἄκρα ὠφέλεια (12.1). Explicit: μετὰ τὸ ἀναστῆναι ἀπὸ τῶν νεκρῶν (15.20). Edited in Robinson (1893).

32 (f. 278v) Excerpt from <Nicephorus Gregoras, Historia Romana>, vol. 1, 97.21–4 with some glosses.

33 (f. 278v) Excerpt from <David, In Porphyrii isagogen commentarium>, 91.25–92.2.

34 (f. 278v) A geographical note: Παλλήνη ἡ νῆσος, Ποτίδαια ἡ πόλις ἡ Κασανδρεία.

35 (f. 278v) A grammatical note: ἀκόλουθον τοῦ εἰπέ εἰπέτω εἶναι τὸ τρίτον, ὡς τοῦ λέγω τὸ λεγέτω, οὐκ εἰπάτω. οὐ γὰρ τὸ εἶπον ἐν χρήσει παρ’ Ἀττικοῖς, ἀλλὰ τὸ εἶπα παθητικὸς μέσος ἀόριστος, ἐξ οὗ τὸ εἰπάσθω καὶ ἀπειπάσθω. ἔοικεν οὖν ἑτεροκλίτως λέγεται τὸ εἰπάτω.

36 (ff. 279r–280v) Origenes, Philocalia. Title: ὅτι κέκλεισται καὶ ἐσφραγισται ἡ θεία γραφὴ ἀπὸ τοῦ εἰς τὸν πρῶτον ψαλμόν τ’ ὁμοῦ· ὠριγένους. Incipit: κεκλεῖσθαι καὶ ἐσφραγίσθαι τὰς θείας γραφάς (2.1). Explicit: (2.5). Edited in Robinson (1893).

37 (f. 280v) Excerpt from <Pausanias, Graeciae descriptio>, 3.19.6. No title. Incipit: ὅτι θεῶν σέβουσιν οἱ Ἀμυκλαῖοι. Explicit: ὄρνιθας πτερά.

38 (ff. 280v–281v) A brief treatise on calculating the dates of several festivities.

39 (ff. 281v–284r) Title: σχόλια ἀπὸ φωνῆς Θεοδώρου τοῦ θεοφιλεστάτου Ἀβουκαρᾶ σοφωτάτου καὶ φιλοσόφου τήν τε ἡμέραν καὶ τὴν ἔξω ὡς χρὴ φιλοσοφήσαντος γραφήν. Incipit: ἀναγκαῖόν ἐστι μέλλοντας ἡμᾶς. Explicit: τὸ δὲ διάφορον ταῖς φύσεσιν. Still unedited.

40 (ff. 284r–v) No title. Epigram, AP App. Ep. exhort. et suppl. 143 Cougny.

41 (f. 284v) A brief treatise on painting. Title: ὑποτύπωσις χρωματισμοῦ στολίου καὶ προσώπου. Incipit: εἰς πρῶτον πρόπλασμα. Explicit: καὶ ἐγγύζει αὐτό. Still unedited.    

42 (f. 285r–v) A list of city names. Title: ὅσαι τῶν πόλεων ἐν τοῖς ὑστερον χρόνοις μετωνομάσθησαν. Edited in Diller (1983).

43 (f. 286r–v) A brief treatise on the iambic meter. Title: περὶ τοῦ ϊαμβικοῦ μέτρου. Incipit: ἰστέον ὅτι τὸ ἰαμβικὸν μέτρον. Explicit: τὰ δὲ κύρια ὀνόματα γράφε ὡς βούλῃ. Still unedited.

44 (287r) A brief treatise on dichrona. No title. Incipit: ἰστέον δὲ καὶ περὶ διχρόνων. Explicit: καὶ τοὺς πόρρωθεν. Still unedited.

45 (287r) Excerpts from <Diogenes Laërtius, Vitae philosophorum>. See Dorandi (2009, 6).

Manuscript D is a miscellany of patristic, philosophical, and rhetorical works. Pollux’s Onomasticon preserves only Books 1 and 2, the latter not in its entirety. It was written, according to the watermarks, in the middle of the 14th century, probably in Constantinople. The hand of Michael Apostolis has been identified by Stefec (2014, 195) on f. 62v. This is an important detail, since the manuscript Marcianus graecus Z 513Marc. gr. Z 513 (Ma), with which D shares some errors, was partly copied by him. The manuscript was later owned by Ulrich FuggerUlrich Fugger (1526‒1584), whose library signature is found on f. 2r: ‘209 seorʼ. After his death, the manuscript was bequeathed after his death to Friedrich IVFriedrich IV (Elector of the Palatine) in Heidelberg. In 1623 it was finally taken to Rome as spoils of war during the Thirty Years’ War.