Minuscule 15
Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament
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Minuscule 15 is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament Gospels, written on parchment. It is designated by the siglum 15 in the Gregory-Aland numbering of New Testament manuscripts, and as ε 283 in the von Soden numbering of New Testament manuscripts.[1] Using the study of comparative writing styles (palaeography), it is assigned to the 12th-century.[2] It has liturgical books and full marginal notes.
| New Testament manuscript | |
| Text | Gospels |
|---|---|
| Date | 12th-century |
| Script | Greek |
| Now at | Bibliothèque nationale de France |
| Size | 18.2 cm by 14.3 cm |
| Type | Byzantine text-type |
| Category | V |
| Note | full marginalia |
Description
The manuscript is a codex (precursor to the modern book format), containing the complete text of the four Gospels, written on 225 parchment leaves, sized 18.2 cm by 14.3 cm.[2] The text is written in one column per page, 23-24 lines per page.[2][3] It was written in neat, and regular letters.[4] The first three pages are written in gold ink, with "exquisite miniatures", four on page two, four on page three.[4]
The text is divided according to the chapters (known as κεφαλαια / kephalai), whose numbers are given in the margin, with their titles (known as τιτλοι / titloi) at the top of the pages. There is also a division according to the Ammonian Sections, with references to the Eusebian Canons which are written below Ammonian Section numbers (both early divisions of the Gospels into sections).[5] The copyist has included what is known as the 'iota adscriptum' to the main text.[5]
It contains Prolegomena (introductions), Epistle to Carpainus, Eusebian Canon tables, tables of contents (also known as κεφαλαια) before each Gospel, lectionary equipment at the margin (for liturgical use), and pictures.[5] It also contains liturgical books with hagiographies: the synaxarion and Menologion (lists of Saint's days and lives).[5]
Text
The Greek text of the codex is considered to be a representative of the Byzantine text-type.[6] Textual critic Hermann von Soden classified it to Ak (the Byzantine commentated text).[7] Biblical scholar Kurt Aland placed it in Category V of his New Testament manuscript classification system.[8] According to the Claremont Profile Method (a specific analysis of textaul data), it belongs to the textual family Kx in Luke 1 and Luke 20. In Luke 10 no profile was made.[7]
In the margin of Mark 16:8 it has a scholion which questions the authenticity of the remains verses of the Gospel: εν τισι των αντιγραφων, εως ωδε πληρουται ο ευαγγελιστης. εν πολλοις δε, και ταυτα φερεται (It certain copies, the Gospel is present up to here. But in many others, also these [verses] are included).[5] The text of the pericope John 7:53-8:11 is omitted.[5]
History
The earliest history of the manuscript is unknown. It was brought to Paris by Catherine de' Medici.[5] It was in private hands, and became one of the manuscripts used by Ludolph Kuster in his revised reprint of John Mill's Novum Testamentum Graecum (Paris 8).[4]
Biblical scholar Johann M. A. Scholz examined a bigger part of Matthew, Mark and John in the codex. It was examined and described by biblical scholars Dean Burgon and Paulin Martin.[9] C. R. Gregory saw the manuscript in 1884.[5]
Scholz dated it to the 10th-century, Gregory to the 12th-century.[5] It is currently dated by the INTF to the 12th-century.[3] The codex is presently located at the National Library of France (shelf number Gr. 64) in Paris.[2][3]