Strasbourg, Bibliothèque nationale et universitaire, Ms 326 (olim: Latin 275)

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Astronomical-Computistical Collection

Aratea text: Excerptum de astrologia; Germanicus, Aratea; Scholia Basileensia

Parchment — ii+ 201 fols. + ii (modern paper) — 320 × 255 mm — Limoges — s. X2

Support: Foliated in pencil in the upper right corner of every folium. Fol. 1 cut perpendicularly, missing the outer half. Missing leaf (most probably originally left blank) between ff. 172 and 173, now only a small rest visible; two stubs visible also between ff. 169 and 170. Stanes probably from water damage on ff. 191-201.

Layout: Part 1 (ff. 1-111) written in 31-33 long lines.Layout: Part 2 (ff. 112-135) written in 29 long lines.Layout: Part 3 (ff. 136-167) written in 33 long lines.Layout: ff. 168-172 (Aratea) written in 40-44 long lines.Layout: ff. 173-179r (Calendar) ruled in 33 long lines; ff. 179v-184v (Tables) in 44-59 lines.Layout: ff. 185r-v written in two columns 44 lines.Layout: ff. 186r-201v written in 44 long lines.

Script: Most of the texts are written in a tight carolingian minuscule, which shows characteristics of the tenth century such as: e-caudata, word division, ligatures (ct, st, ra, nt) and abbreviation (-orum, -tur). The script used for the Aratea section exhibits fewer ligatures and seems to be written by a more modern hand (the shaft of the caroline a becoming more up-right, the tongue of the e pointing to 2 o'clock). The same hand wrote probably also ff. 185-201.

On f.169r a prayer later added in the free space: "In nomine patri et filii et spiritus sancti amen. Adiuro uos tempestates et uoces et tonitrua et fulgura ". Fol. 181 a later addition. Rubrics for chapters headings in Capitalis rustica and initial-majuscule for opening the chapter. Later added paragraph marks in red; ample margins left but no glossa.

Binding: Modern brown shagreen leather binding on six sewing stations.

History: The manuscript is a copy of Paris, BnF, Ms lat. 5239 (s. X1/3, Saint-Martial in Limoges).

Selected Bibliography:Catalogue général. Vol. 47. Paris, 1923, pp. 139-143. — Borst, Schriften. Vol. 1, pp. 294-296. — Lott, Transmission, p. 150. — Dell'Era, Baseleensia, p. 304. — Buescu, Victor. “Deux Nouveaux Francici de Germanicus César.” InProblèmes de critique et d’histoire textuelle, 229–37. Bucharest and Paris, 1942. — Folkerts, Menso. “De Arithmeticis Propositionibus. A Mathematical Treatise Ascribed to the Venerable Bede.” InEssays on Early Medieval Mathematics, by Menso Folkerts, III. 1–30. Aldershot: Variorum, 2003, here p. 6. — Juste, Observation, p. 193. — Leonardi, p. 453. — Munk Olsen, Catalogue 1, p. 409. — Munk Olsen, Catalogue 2, p. 269. — Entry in Innovative Knowledge DB.

1r-10r Bede: De natura rerum

10r-15v Bede: De temporibus Incipit liber de temporibus

Reliquum sextae aetatis deo soli patet.

16r-82v Bede: De temprum ratione Praefatio Bedae presbuteri in librum de temporibus De natura rerum et ratione temporum duoscondam [!] per stricto sermone libellos discentibus … — … caelestium premiorum mereamur accipere palmam. ((f.82v)) Explicit domino iuvante Bedae presbiteri. On f.77v the text jumps from chapter 66,10 " cuius adiutorio propagaret genuit humanum" to chapter 67-71 "Haec de cursu praeteriti saeculi".

Few marginal notes and interlinear, more abundant in the first chapters.

104v-107r Series annorum mundi nova Adbreviatio chronicae. Aetas prima Adam cum esset CXXX annorum genuit seth. Set autem habens annos CV … — … Sunt autem totius summae ab origine mundi anni usque in presentem annum DCCCX incarnationis dni I̅I̅I̅I̅DCCLXII.

107r-109r (Ps.) Isidore: De ortu et obitu patrum Incipit de ortu et obitu patrum Adam pater generis humani dei manibus ex terra creatus … — … episcopus missu sibidem requies at in pace. Taken probably fromLibri computi, I, 6.

109r Excerpt from Libri computi, I, 7 C. Nostrates Hieronimus graeci Ab adam usque ad natiuitatem xri computantur anni I̅I̅I̅DCCCLII Si in primo anno quo adam factus est posueris terminum paschae … — … anno que passionis terminus nonas aprilis et concurens VII.

109v-110r On different languages and alphabets after the flood. Primus omnium litteras ante diluuium inuenisse enoch dicitur … — … MM Ecathostochyle. Included are the jewish, greek, and latin alphabets, the one by Aethicus Cosmographus, and the northmen ("northmannorum"). The name of each letter is transliterated in Latin. At the end is a list of the Roman numerals from one to million "MM" (in 5 columns), with the corresponding Greek numerals transliterated in Latin letter "Mia Ecathostochyle".

110v-111r Bede: De arithmeticis propositionibus liber (1.1-3.3) Incipiunt numeri per quos potest qui voluerit aliterius cogitationes de numero quolibet quem animo conceperit explorare Quo modo numerous a quolibet animo conceptus quis sit … — … sexies conteni sextam septies conteni septimam.

111v Unfinished digram; a large circle.

112r–115r Computistical tables.

119v Text on the winds based onIsidore 's De natura rerum, 37. De nominibus ventorum Ventorum primus cardinalis septentrio … — … si circuli similitudinem prudens lector inquirat.

119v-120r Verse on the winds. Versus de ventorum nominibus ac speris subpositis Quatttuor aquadro consurgunt limite uenti … — … Argestemque grai uocitant cognomina prisco.

120r Wind diagram rota with twelve wedge-shaped segments with text for each of the twelve winds again based onIsidore 's De natura rerum, 37: "Ventorum primus cadinalis septentrio qui et a partias frigidus et niualis".

120v Rota for phases of the moon "ledo", "malina" in connection with the tides, in the centre of the rota with T-O centre and four smaller circles on the sides each with text "Luna XXVIII incipit malina" etc. probably taken from Annalis libellus, c. 51.

121r Another wind diagram with eight wedge-shaped segments, each divided further in two. Texts inbetween the eight segments each starting with the the letter O: "O miranda suo flamantia sidera celo", "Ordine quadrifido solari currere ciclo""Orridus est aquilo frigentia climate celo" etc.

121v Pliny the Elder: De positione et cursu septem planetarum De positione et cursu septem planetarum Inter caelum et terram certis … — … ad easdem uices exit. On f.122r the bust medallions of the planets.

122r Pliny the Elder: De intervallis earum De intervallis earum Interualla eorum a terra multi indagare … — … diapason armoniam uocant. On f.122r parallel to the text a list of the planets with the intervalls in between. On f.122v a circular diagram of the planetary intervals.

123r On f.123r a rectangular diagram of the planetary latitudes.

123v-124r Pliny the Elder. De absidibus earum Tres autem quas supra solem diximus … — … ut subiecta figura demonstrate. On f.124r a circular diagram of the planetaryabsides.

124v-125r Excerpts from Annalis libellus, c. 69b-c and Libri computi, Lib. IIII, 24-26. De eclypsin solis et lunae Eclypsin solis ei quotiens luna XXX ad eandem lineam qua sol uehitur … — … quotidie tardius ueniret tardius recederet. Astronomical notes on the place of the planets in the zodiacal band for the years 770 and 794:"Anno DCCLXX indictione VIII prima die ianuari mensis stella saturni nec non et stella iouis in sidere [can] cri uersabantur. Et cuicumque codicellus iste perueniat in manus si tamen curio [!] sit errantium recognoscere siderum cursus intellegat post quanta annorum curricula ad idem redeant sidus. Anno dominice DCCXCIIII indictione V stellarum in mense marti in geminis et stella iouis in scorpione stella martis in cancro et stella ueneris in tauro uersatur. Discite o iuuenes cum abraham caeli et siderum cursus cognoscere non cum ępicurio uoluptatum adsertore uentri deseruire et luxuriae." Valenciennes, BM, Ms 174, ff. 28r-29r.

125r-v (Ps.) Bede: Opusculum Itaque stella veneris et mercurii De stella veneris et mercurii Itaque stella ueneris et mercurio hoc superioribus tribus planetarum stellis differunt … — … et idcirco longiores aetheris meta peragit.

125v (Ps.) Bede: De apsidibus planetarum De absidibus planetarum Circulus zodiacus qui duodecim signis constat omni ex parte aeque uicinus est terre … — … sed potius LXX dierum numerum reddat.

125v-126r In quo signo versetur mars De signo mars In quo signo uersetur mars Annis ab inicio mundi … — … inueniri planetam. Virgo latitudinem signiferi scandes.

126r-127r Pliny the Elder: De cursu earum per zodiacum circulum De sursu earum per zodiacum circulum Cur autem magnitudines suas et colores mutent … — … maxime inobseruabilis est cursus.

127r Excerpt from Libri computi, V, 11. Dimensio caelestium spaciorum secundum quosdam A terra ad lunam tonum esse pronunciant … — … id est miliaria CVIIII et CCCLXXV

127r-129r Pliny the Elder: De presagiis tempestatum De praesagiis tempestatum Etenim prqedictis difficilioribus transpire conuenit … — … diras tempestates praenunciant. Marginal heading inCapitalis rustica for each section: "solis", "lunae", "stellarum" etc.

129r List of types of numbers according to Augustine 's De musica: Genera numerorum in sensibus secundum Augustinum "Progressores· In actu· Occursores· In passione· Recordabiles· In memoria Sonantes· In delectatione· Iudiciales· In discretione."

129r Excerpt from Annalis libellus, c. 65. Raciocinatione [!] item de generibus numerorum in Cardinales sunt numeri ut unus duo tres … — … solus solius soli alter alterius alteri.

129r De compoto articulari

Short texts on measures, predominantly excerpts from theLibri computi, Lib. VI, 1-7:

133v-134v Further excerpts from Libri computi, Lib. IV, 31a-33a and V, 10:

Borst, Schriften, Vol. 3, pp. 1237-42.

134v-135r Excerpt from Servius ' In Vergilii carmina commentarii, 10, v. 272. De differentia cometarum Hanc stellam electram dicunt cum qua iuppiter concubuit … — … rapinas bella et caetera mala significat. Later annotations in the margin.

135v Drawing of a circular labirint.

136r-164v A collection of computistical argumenta predominantly taken from Libri computi, Lectiones conputi and Annalis libellus.

164v-167r Bede: Letter to Wicthede Incipit praefatio Bedae Presbiteri Reuerentissimo ac sansctissimo fratri uictheda … — … aut ante aequinoctium fuisset confirmet.

167v Blank.

168r-v Excerptum de astrologia Duo sunt extremi uertices mundi … — … ad ipsum usque currit accipiens.

168v-171v Germanicus: Aratea (O family vv. 1-146)

171v-172v Later addition (s.XII2?) historical introduction in the art of computus. De annis domini de quibus tanta dubitacio est intercalculatores qui existunt in arte compotipariciores [!] de pluribus libris excerpsi … — … Septuaginta uero interpretes, multum ab hac supputatione annorum dissentiunt.

173r Blank.

Calendrics:



(185r-v) Calendrical verses. (185r) Tetrastikon autenticum de singulis mensibus Ianuarius. Hic iani mensis sacer est … — … Nunc tibi cum domino ludere uerna licent Verse on the zodiac taken from Cicero 's Aratea (vv.329-331, 320-328): Versus de duodecim signis Primus adest aries obscuro lumine labens … — … Exin squamiferi serpentes ludere pisces. Versus de singulis mensibus Primus romanas ordinis iane kalendas … — … Umbrifera mensis cumque december adest. (185r-v) Item versus de numero dierum singulorum mensium Dira patet iani romanis ianua bellis … — … Unde december amat te genealis hiemps. Written in two columns, 44 lines as the Aratea; on 185v – only two lines written the rest left blank.

191r-194r Isidore: Etymologiae (Lib. V, 28-39) List of chapters on previous f. 190v. Cronica greci dicitur quae latine temporum series apellatur … — … Eracleus annos XXVII huius V ̄DCCCXXXIII.

194r-197v Isidore: Etymologiae (Lib. III, 24-71) Item Isydori

Astronomia est astrotum lex quae cursus siderum … — … et insuperna contemplacione conlocaret.

197v-199v Isidore: Etymologiae (Lib. XIII, 1-11) Item Isydori

In hoc vero libello quasi in brevi tabella quasdam caeli causas situsque terrarum et maris spacia adnotavimus ut in modico lector ea percurrat et compendiosa brevitate ethimologias eorum causasque cognoscat Mundus est celum terra mare et que in eis pera dei … — … poete ut alitis austris.

199v-200r Dies egyptiaci.

200r-201r Isidore: Etymologiae (Lib. IX, 5-6,22) Heredis nomen inposuit census heris … — … cognati, cognate, progenitores, progenetrices, Germani, Germanae. On f. 201v – three column table with heading"Item de predictis affinitatibus" and family realtions: "Auctor mei generis -- michi pater est -- ego illi filius aut filia"


Abreviated Literature:

Borst, SchriftenBorst, Arno. Schriften zur Komputistik im Frankenreich von 721 bis 818. 3 Vols. (MGH: Quellen zur Geistesgeschichte des Mittelalters, 21, 1-3) Hannover: Hahn, 2006.
Catalogue généralCatalogue général des manuscrits des bibliothèques publiques de France: Départements. Paris.
Dell'Era, BaseleensiaDell’Era, Antonio. “Gli Scholia Basileensia a Germanico,” Memorie della Classe di Scienze morali, storiche e filologiche. Ser. 8, 23 (1979): 301–79.
Juste, ObservationJuste, David. “Neither Observation nor Astronomical Tables. An Alternative Way of Computing the Planetary Longitudes in the Early Western Middle Ages.” In Studies in the History of the Exact Sciences in Honour of David Pingree, edited by Charles Burnett, 181–222. Leiden: Brill, 2004.
LeonardiLeonardi, Claudio. "I codici di Marziano Capella," Aevum 34 (1960): 1-99 and 411-524.
Lott, TransmissionLott, Elisabeth S. “The Textual Tradition of the Aratea of Germanicus Caesar: Missing Links in the « µ » Branch.” Revue d’histoire des textes 11 (1981): 147-158.
Munk Olsen, Catalogue 1Munk Olsen, Birger. L’ étude Des Auteurs Classiques Latins Aux XIe et XIIe Siècles. Vol. I. Catalogue des manuscrits classiques latins copiés du IXe. au XIIe siècle: Apicius - Juvénal. Paris: CNRS, 1982.
Munk Olsen, Catalogue 2Munk Olsen, Birger. L’ étude Des Auteurs Classiques Latins Aux XIe et XIIe Siècles. Vol. II. Catalogue des manuscrits classiques latins copiés du IXe au XIIe siècle: Livius - Vitruvius, Florilèges - Essais de plume. Paris: CNRS, 1985.

(draft version: 2018-06-01)
How to quote: Ivana Dobcheva, 'Strasbourg, Bibliothèque nationale et universitaire, Ms 326 - Aratea Digital' (https://github.com/ivanadob/aratea-data/blob/master/data/descriptions/desc__strasbourg_bnu_326.xml last update: 2018-06-01).