The Στοιχεῐα or Elements of Geometry of Euclid in 13 books, with the two supplementary books ('14th' and '15th') headed (fol. 371) 'Υψικλε'ους το ɛἰς Eὐκλείδην άναφερόμενον.', written in A.D. 888 by Stephanos the clerk
The Colophon of the 13th book is 'Εὐκλείσου στοιχείων τἦς θέδωρός έκδόσεως.'.
The text is in finely written minuscules, but the marginal scholia, some introductory matter on fols. 2-4, and most of fols. 118r-120r are in half-uncials.
Fols. 6-14 (Eucl. El. i. 1-14 part) are in a later (14th cent. ?) hand, which wrote also on several blank leaves in the volume. The diagrams are in all cases given.
Two epigrams on Euclid ('Εὐκλείδης μέτρων ἀψευδέας εῢρε κελεύθους | Γραμμἦ καἰ κέντρῳ κάλλον [?] [I read κύκλον. Ε. W. B. Ν.] έρεισάμενος', and one of six lines beginning 'Εὐκλείδης νόον ὀξὺν άειζώοις Ύραμμαῐσι') are on fols. 5v, 387v in a 9th cent. hand.
On fol. 387v is the subscription 'έγράφη χειρὶ στεφάνου κληρικού μηνὶ σεπτεμβρίῳ ϊνδικτίωνος ἒτει κόσμου'=Sept. A.D. 888. Then έκτησάμην άρέθας πατρεὺς την παρούσαν βίβλον Ṅ Ṅ ιδ' (the ι is doubtful): i.e. for 14 (?) νοῠμμοι. Facsimiles of leaves of this celebrated codex are in the Palæographical Society's publications, series I, plates 65-6, and elsewhere. Other MSS. known to have belonged to Arethas of Patrae afterwards bishop of Caesarea (d. 931 ?) are Bodl. MS. Clarke 39 (Plato; A.D. 896), Florence MS. Laur. 60. 3 (Aristides), Venice MS. Marc. 447 (Athenaeus), Vatican MS. Urbin. 35 (Aristotle's Organon), Paris MS. Grec 451 (Clemens Alexandrinus) and Brit. Mus. MS. Harley 5694 (Lucian, A.D. 914).
Dates
- Creation: written in A.D. 888 by Stephanos the clerk
Extent
391 Leaves
Language of Materials
- Greek, Ancient (to 1453)
Shelfmark
MS. D'Orville 301
Former reference:
Auct. X. 1. inf. 2. 30
Other Finding Aids
Falconer Madan, et al., A summary catalogue of western manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford which have not hitherto been catalogued in the Quarto series (7 vols. in 8 [vol. II in 2 parts], Oxford, 1895-1953; reprinted, with corrections in vols. I and VII, Munich, 1980), vol. IV, no 17179
Our best descriptions for medieval items in this collection are in Medieval Manuscripts in Oxford Libraries under MSS. D'Orville.
Physical Facet
On parchment, in parts much rubbed
Dimensions
9 1/8 × 7 3/8 in.
Repository Details
Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk