Minuscule 551
Encyclopedia
Minuscule 551 ε 251 (in the Soden numbering), is a Greek
minuscule manuscript
of the New Testament
, on parchment. Palaeographically
it has been assigned to the 12th century.
Scrivener labeled it by number 538.
s on 233 parchment leaves (size ). The writing is in one column per page, 22-23 lines per page.
The text is divided according to the (chapters), whose numerals are given at the margin, and the (titles of chapters) at the top of the pages. There is a division according to the Ammonian Sections, and some references to the Eusebian Canons. The number of Ammonian Sections and are varies from what is usual.
It contains the Epistula ad Carpianum
, Prolegomena (added by a later hand), tables of the (tables of contents) are placed before every Gospel. There are barbarous headpieces to the Gospels.
It contains lectionary markings at the margin, incipits, (Synaxarion and Menologion added by a later hand), subscriptions at the end of each Gospel, with numbers of , and pictures of the four Evangelist.
. Aland
placed it in Category V.
According to the Claremont Profile Method it represents the textual family Kx
in Luke 1
, Luke 10, and Luke 20.
at Athos
peninsula. In 1837 Robert Curzon, Lord Zouche
, brought this manuscript to England (along with the codices 547
-550
). The entire collection of Curzon was bequeathed by his daughter in 1917 to the British Museum
, where it had been deposited, by his son, since 1876.
The manuscripts was added to the list of the New Testament minuscule manuscripts by F. H. A. Scrivener (538) and C. R. Gregory (551). Gregory saw it in 1883.
The manuscript was examined by Scrivener, Dean Burgon, and Gregory.
It is currently housed at the British Library
(Additional Manuscripts, 39594) in London
.
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
minuscule manuscript
Manuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
of the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
, on parchment. Palaeographically
Palaeography
Palaeography, also spelt paleography is the study of ancient writing. Included in the discipline is the practice of deciphering, reading, and dating historical manuscripts, and the cultural context of writing, including the methods with which writing and books were produced, and the history of...
it has been assigned to the 12th century.
Scrivener labeled it by number 538.
Description
The codex contains a complete text of the four GospelGospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
s on 233 parchment leaves (size ). The writing is in one column per page, 22-23 lines per page.
The text is divided according to the (chapters), whose numerals are given at the margin, and the (titles of chapters) at the top of the pages. There is a division according to the Ammonian Sections, and some references to the Eusebian Canons. The number of Ammonian Sections and are varies from what is usual.
It contains the Epistula ad Carpianum
Epistula ad Carpianum
The Epistula ad Carpianum is the title traditionally given to a letter from Eusebius of Caesarea to a Christian named Carpianus....
, Prolegomena (added by a later hand), tables of the (tables of contents) are placed before every Gospel. There are barbarous headpieces to the Gospels.
It contains lectionary markings at the margin, incipits, (Synaxarion and Menologion added by a later hand), subscriptions at the end of each Gospel, with numbers of , and pictures of the four Evangelist.
Text
The Greek text of the codex is a representative of the Byzantine text-typeByzantine text-type
The Byzantine text-type is one of several text-types used in textual criticism to describe the textual character of Greek New Testament manuscripts. It is the form found in the largest number of surviving manuscripts, though not in the oldest...
. Aland
Kurt Aland
Kurt Aland was a German Theologian and Professor of New Testament Research and Church History. He founded the Institut für neutestamentliche Textforschung in Münster and served as its first director for many years...
placed it in Category V.
According to the Claremont Profile Method it represents the textual family Kx
Family Kx
Family Kx is a large group of the New Testament manuscripts. It belongs to the Byzantine text-type as one of the textual families of this group. It includes uncials, and although hundreds of minuscules, no early ones.- Description :...
in Luke 1
Luke 1
Luke 1 is the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It describes the events leading up to the birth of Jesus. It is written to Theophilus, who could be a real person or could simply mean a fellow Christian as theo philus is Greek for God lover...
, Luke 10, and Luke 20.
History
The manuscript was held in the Karakalou monasteryKarakalou monastery
Karakalou monastery is an Eastern Orthodox monastery at the monastic state of Mount Athos in Greece. It stands on the south-eastern side of the Athos peninsula....
at Athos
Mount Athos
Mount Athos is a mountain and peninsula in Macedonia, Greece. A World Heritage Site, it is home to 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries and forms a self-governed monastic state within the sovereignty of the Hellenic Republic. Spiritually, Mount Athos comes under the direct jurisdiction of the...
peninsula. In 1837 Robert Curzon, Lord Zouche
Robert Curzon, 14th Baron Zouche
Robert Curzon, 14th Baron Zouche , styled The Honourable Robert Curzon between 1829 and 1870, was an English traveller, diplomat and author, active in the Near East. He was responsible for acquiring several unimportant and late Biblical manuscripts from Eastern Orthodox monasteries.Curzon was the...
, brought this manuscript to England (along with the codices 547
Minuscule 547
Minuscule 547 , δ 157 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment...
-550
Minuscule 550
Minuscule 550 , 537 , ε 250 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 12th century....
). The entire collection of Curzon was bequeathed by his daughter in 1917 to the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
, where it had been deposited, by his son, since 1876.
The manuscripts was added to the list of the New Testament minuscule manuscripts by F. H. A. Scrivener (538) and C. R. Gregory (551). Gregory saw it in 1883.
The manuscript was examined by Scrivener, Dean Burgon, and Gregory.
It is currently housed at the British Library
British Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom, and is the world's largest library in terms of total number of items. The library is a major research library, holding over 150 million items from every country in the world, in virtually all known languages and in many formats,...
(Additional Manuscripts, 39594) in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
See also
- List of New Testament minuscules
- Biblical manuscriptBiblical manuscriptA biblical manuscript is any handwritten copy of a portion of the text of the Bible. The word Bible comes from the Greek biblia ; manuscript comes from Latin manu and scriptum...
- Textual criticismTextual criticismTextual criticism is a branch of literary criticism that is concerned with the identification and removal of transcription errors in the texts of manuscripts...
Further reading
- S. Emmel, Catalogue of Materials for Writing, Early Writings on Tablets and Stones, rolled and other Manuscripts and Oriental Manuscript Books, in the Library of the Honourable Robert Curzon (London 1849).