Ludolph Kuster
Encyclopedia
Ludolf Küster (1670–1716) was a Westphalia
n scholar, philologist
, textual critic
, palaeographer
, and editor of Greek ancient texts.
Küster was born in Blomberg
, Westphalia
. He was friends with, and a correspondent of, Richard Bentley
, master of Trinity College, Cambridge
, who assisted him in the production of a hasty edition of the works of Aristophanes
. Thomas de Quincey
was later to say that Bentley's contributions—including epistles on The Clouds
and Plutus
--were "mangled" by Küster and incompetent printers. Some of these letters still survive. Bentley also assisted Küster, among other editors, with an edition of Suidae Lexicon Graece et Latine
(1705).
In Utrecht
, from 1697 to 1699, Küster published the journal Bibliotheca Ubrorum novorum under the pseudonym "Neocorus" (a Greek word that translates as roughly equivalent to the German word "Küster", that is, "sexton" or "sacristan
"). Several times, Küster came into professional conflict with Dutch classical scholar Jakob Gronovius
.
In 1710, he made a reprint, or rather revision, of John Mill
's Novum Testamentum Graecum (1707), with prolegomena and with collations of 12 more manuscripts. It was published in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Kuster's reprint also appeared, in Leipzig
in 1723 and again in Amsterdam in 1746. He used 12 more manuscripts than original Mill's edition. Nine of these 12 codices were collated for Küster by abbé de Louvois: codex 285
, M
, 9
, 11
, 119
, 13
, 14
, 15
, and Codex Ephraemi. Currently they are housed in the Bibliothèque nationale de France
in Paris. Codex 78
was collated by Boerner
, codex 42
, and Codex Boernerianus
by Küster himself. In this edition, Küster published his own notes separate from Mill's by prefixing and affixing the marks, and his collations both of his own codices and of early editions will be found more complete than his predecessor's. Mill's dedication was omitted.
Küster was the first to recognize the 9th century date of Codex Boernerianus.
In 1713, Küster traveled to Paris
and spoke against the Protestant religion
. There he was admitted to the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles Lettres, and received a pension from the crown of 2000 pounds.
He is mentioned by name in Alexander Pope
's satirical Dunciad
, in the company of other notable classicists of his day.
Westphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
n scholar, philologist
Philology
Philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.Classical philology is the philology of Greek and Classical Latin...
, textual critic
Textual criticism
Textual criticism is a branch of literary criticism that is concerned with the identification and removal of transcription errors in the texts of manuscripts...
, palaeographer
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...
, and editor of Greek ancient texts.
Küster was born in Blomberg
Blomberg
Blomberg is a town in the Lippe district of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, with c. 17,000 inhabitants.-External links:*...
, Westphalia
Westphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
. He was friends with, and a correspondent of, Richard Bentley
Richard Bentley
Richard Bentley was an English classical scholar, critic, and theologian. He was Master of Trinity College, Cambridge....
, master of Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, who assisted him in the production of a hasty edition of the works of Aristophanes
Aristophanes
Aristophanes , son of Philippus, of the deme Cydathenaus, was a comic playwright of ancient Athens. Eleven of his forty plays survive virtually complete...
. Thomas de Quincey
Thomas de Quincey
Thomas Penson de Quincey was an English esssayist, best known for his Confessions of an English Opium-Eater .-Child and student:...
was later to say that Bentley's contributions—including epistles on The Clouds
The Clouds
The Clouds is a comedy written by the celebrated playwright Aristophanes lampooning intellectual fashions in classical Athens. It was originally produced at the City Dionysia in 423 BC and it was not well received, coming last of the three plays competing at the festival that year. It was revised...
and Plutus
Plutus (play)
Plutus is an Ancient Greek comedy by the playwrightAristophanes, first produced c. 388 BC. A political satire on contemporary Athens, it features the personified god of wealth Plutus...
--were "mangled" by Küster and incompetent printers. Some of these letters still survive. Bentley also assisted Küster, among other editors, with an edition of Suidae Lexicon Graece et Latine
Suda
The Suda or Souda is a massive 10th century Byzantine encyclopedia of the ancient Mediterranean world, formerly attributed to an author called Suidas. It is an encyclopedic lexicon, written in Greek, with 30,000 entries, many drawing from ancient sources that have since been lost, and often...
(1705).
In Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
, from 1697 to 1699, Küster published the journal Bibliotheca Ubrorum novorum under the pseudonym "Neocorus" (a Greek word that translates as roughly equivalent to the German word "Küster", that is, "sexton" or "sacristan
Sacristan
A sacristan is an officer who is charged with the care of the sacristy, the church, and their contents.In ancient times many duties of the sacristan were performed by the doorkeepers , later by the treasurers and mansionarii...
"). Several times, Küster came into professional conflict with Dutch classical scholar Jakob Gronovius
Jakob Gronovius
Jacobus Gronovius a.k.a. Jacob Gronow was a Dutch classical scholar.He was the son of the German classical scholar Johann Friedrich Gronovius and Aleyda ten Nuyl from Deventer, and father of the botanist Jan Frederik Gronovius...
.
In 1710, he made a reprint, or rather revision, of John Mill
John Mill
John Mill was an English theologian. He is noted for his critical edition of the Greek New Testament which included notes on many variant readings.-Biography:...
's Novum Testamentum Graecum (1707), with prolegomena and with collations of 12 more manuscripts. It was published in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Kuster's reprint also appeared, in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
in 1723 and again in Amsterdam in 1746. He used 12 more manuscripts than original Mill's edition. Nine of these 12 codices were collated for Küster by abbé de Louvois: codex 285
Minuscule 285
Minuscule 285 , ε 527 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Paleographically it has been assigned to the 15th century.It has marginalia.- Description :...
, M
Codex Campianus
Codex Campianus designated by M or 021 , ε 72 , is a Greek uncial manuscript of the New Testament, dated palaeographically to the 9th century...
, 9
Minuscule 9
Minuscule 9 , ε 279 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 12th century, but according to the colophon it was written in the year 1167....
, 11
Minuscule 11
Minuscule 11 , ε 297 . It is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament in two small volumes. The first volume has 230 leaves, the second volume has 274 leaves parchment . Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 14th century.- Description :The codex contains the complete text of the...
, 119
Minuscule 119
Minuscule 119 , ε 1290 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment leaves. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 13th century. It has complex contents with marginalia.- Description :...
, 13
Minuscule 13
Minuscule 13 , ε 368 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on a parchment, dated to the 13th century. The manuscript is lacunose. The text of the manuscript is important for the textual critic...
, 14
Minuscule 14
Minuscule 14 , ε 1021 . It is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on 392 parchment leaves , dated by a colophon to the year 964 CE.- Description :...
, 15
Minuscule 15
Minuscule 15 , ε 283 . It is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on 225 parchment leaves , dated palaeographically to the 12th century. It has full marginalia.- Description :...
, and Codex Ephraemi. Currently they are housed in the Bibliothèque nationale de France
Bibliothèque nationale de France
The is the National Library of France, located in Paris. It is intended to be the repository of all that is published in France. The current president of the library is Bruno Racine.-History:...
in Paris. Codex 78
Minuscule 78
Minuscule 78 , ε 1209 , is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on parchment leaves. Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 12th century. It has complex contents and full marginalia....
was collated by Boerner
Christian Frederick Boerner
Christian Frederick Boerner , professor of theology at Leipzig. Boerner was born in Dresden, and lived most of his life in Leipzig. Boerner had two sons, Christian Frederic, and Frederic , who were both physicians....
, codex 42
Minuscule 42
Minuscule 42 , α107 , known as Codex Maedicaeus is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament on parchment...
, and Codex Boernerianus
Codex Boernerianus
Codex Boernerianus, designated by Gp or 012 , α 1028 , is a small New Testament codex, measuring 25 x 18 cm, written in one column per page, 20 lines per page. Dated paleographically to the 9th century. The name of the codex derives from Boerner, to whom it once belonged...
by Küster himself. In this edition, Küster published his own notes separate from Mill's by prefixing and affixing the marks, and his collations both of his own codices and of early editions will be found more complete than his predecessor's. Mill's dedication was omitted.
Küster was the first to recognize the 9th century date of Codex Boernerianus.
In 1713, Küster traveled to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and spoke against the Protestant religion
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
. There he was admitted to the Academy of Inscriptions and Belles Lettres, and received a pension from the crown of 2000 pounds.
He is mentioned by name in Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope
Alexander Pope was an 18th-century English poet, best known for his satirical verse and for his translation of Homer. He is the third-most frequently quoted writer in The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, after Shakespeare and Tennyson...
's satirical Dunciad
The Dunciad
The Dunciad is a landmark literary satire by Alexander Pope published in three different versions at different times. The first version was published in 1728 anonymously. The second version, the Dunciad Variorum was published anonymously in 1729. The New Dunciad, in four books and with a...
, in the company of other notable classicists of his day.
Works
- A Critical History of Homer, Frankfurt, 1696
- Suidae Lexicon Graece & Latine, ed. Aemilius Portus & Ludolph Kuster, 3 vols, Cambridge 1705.
- An edition of the Life of PythagorasPythagorasPythagoras of Samos was an Ionian Greek philosopher, mathematician, and founder of the religious movement called Pythagoreanism. Most of the information about Pythagoras was written down centuries after he lived, so very little reliable information is known about him...
, Iamblichus and PorphyryPorphyry (philosopher)Porphyry of Tyre , Porphyrios, AD 234–c. 305) was a Neoplatonic philosopher who was born in Tyre. He edited and published the Enneads, the only collection of the work of his teacher Plotinus. He also wrote many works himself on a wide variety of topics...
, Amsterdam, 1707 - Aristophanes. Commoediae undecim, graece et latine, ex Codd. Mss. emendate: Cum scholiis Antiquis, inter quae scholia Lysistratem ex Cod. Vossiano nunc primum in lucem proderunt, ed. Ludolphus Kusterus, Amsterdam, Thomas Fritsch, 1710.
- Novum Testamentum Graecum, cum lectionibus variantibus mss (Amsterdam & Rotterdam, 1710).
- An edition of Hesychius
- Lud. Kusterus de Vero Usu Verborum Mediorum.