Minuscule 1143
Encyclopedia
Minuscule 1143 ε 1035 (von Soden), also known as the Beratinus 2, or Codex Aureus Anthimi. It is a Greek minuscule manuscript
of the New Testament
on purple parchment, dated paleographically to the 9th century. This is one of the seven “purple codices
” in the world to have survived to the present day, and one of the two known purple minuscules (Minuscule 565
is the other) written with a gold ink.
s, on 420 purple parchment leaves (24 by 19 cm). The text is written in one column per page, 17 lines per page, in gold. It is written in early minuscule, but some parts of the codex in semi-uncial, and titles in uncial letters. The codex contains simple miniatures, mainly geometrical figures, without any direct Christian symbols. There are also ornaments on the metal cover.
The text is divided according to the (chapters), whose numerals are given at the margin. There is also a division according to the smaller Ammonian Sections
, with references to the Eusebian Canons.
It contains tables of the (tables of contents) before each Gospel.
The Greek text of the codex is a representative of the Byzantine text-type
. Kurt Aland
did not place it in any Category
. It was not examined by using the Claremont Profile Method.
In terms of style and age, it is comparable to the Empress Theodora's Codex
.
.
Formerly the codex was located in a church in Berat
, since 1971 it is housed in the National Archives of Albania
(No. 2) at Tirana
. Codex Beratinus 2 now is registered with the UNESCO
as a world treasure
.
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 purple parchment, dated paleographically to the 9th century. This is one of the seven “purple codices
Purple parchment
Purple parchment or Codex Purpureus refers to manuscripts written on parchment dyed purple, originally restricted for the use of Roman or Byzantine Emperors. The lettering may be in gold or silver. Later the practice was revived for some especially grand illuminated manuscripts produced for the...
” in the world to have survived to the present day, and one of the two known purple minuscules (Minuscule 565
Minuscule 565
Minuscule 565 , ε 93 , also known as the Empress Theodora's Codex. It is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on purple parchment, dated palaeographically to the 9th century...
is the other) written with a gold ink.
Description
The codex contains the 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 420 purple parchment leaves (24 by 19 cm). The text is written in one column per page, 17 lines per page, in gold. It is written in early minuscule, but some parts of the codex in semi-uncial, and titles in uncial letters. The codex contains simple miniatures, mainly geometrical figures, without any direct Christian symbols. There are also ornaments on the metal cover.
The text is divided according to the (chapters), whose numerals are given at the margin. There is also a division according to the smaller Ammonian Sections
Ammonian Sections
Eusebian canons or Eusebian sections, also known as Ammonian Sections, are the system of dividing the four Gospels used between late Antiquity and the Middle Ages. The divisions into chapters and verses used in modern texts date only from the 13th and 16th centuries, respectively...
, with references to the Eusebian Canons.
It contains tables of the (tables of contents) before each Gospel.
The Greek text of the codex is a representative of the Byzantine text-type
Byzantine 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...
. Kurt 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...
did not place it in any Category
Categories of New Testament manuscripts
New Testament manuscripts in Greek are categorized into five groups, according to a scheme introduced in 1981 by Kurt and Barbara Aland in Der Text des Neuen Testaments. The categories are based on how each manuscript relates to the various text-types. Generally speaking, earlier Alexandrian...
. It was not examined by using the Claremont Profile Method.
In terms of style and age, it is comparable to the Empress Theodora's Codex
Minuscule 565
Minuscule 565 , ε 93 , also known as the Empress Theodora's Codex. It is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, on purple parchment, dated palaeographically to the 9th century...
.
History
The origin of this manuscript has been and remains the subject of debates. It was found in a church of Berat, and became known after publication written by bishop of Berat “Description abrégée et historique de la sainte métropole de Belgrade, aujourd’hui Berat” (Corfu, 1868). It was examined by Pierre BatiffolPierre Batiffol
Pierre Batiffol was a prominent French catholic priest and Church historian, known particularly as a historian of dogma....
.
Formerly the codex was located in a church in Berat
Berat
Berat is a town located in south-central Albania. As of 2009, the town has an estimated population of around 71,000 people. It is the capital of both the District of Berat and the larger County of Berat...
, since 1971 it is housed in the National Archives of Albania
National Archives of Albania
The National Archives of Albania is the national archive of the Republic of Albania, located in Tirana.The Archive was created in 1949 with a decree from the Government of Albania dated 6/8/1949, as a centralized state organ. The documentary content withheld in the A.Q.SH...
(No. 2) at Tirana
Tirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
. Codex Beratinus 2 now is registered with the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
as a world treasure
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
.
See also
- List of New Testament minuscules (1001–2000)
- Purple parchmentPurple parchmentPurple parchment or Codex Purpureus refers to manuscripts written on parchment dyed purple, originally restricted for the use of Roman or Byzantine Emperors. The lettering may be in gold or silver. Later the practice was revived for some especially grand illuminated manuscripts produced for the...
- 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
- Pierre BatiffolPierre BatiffolPierre Batiffol was a prominent French catholic priest and Church historian, known particularly as a historian of dogma....
, Les manuscrits grecs de Berat d'Albanie et le Codex Purpureus, Paris 1886. - Les Codex – Trésors de la Culture Albanaise, edit. Direction Général des Archives, 1999.
- Sinani, Shaban: The codices of Albania (ed.), Albanian National Archives, Tirana 2003.
External links
- Kodikët e Shqipërisë
- Images from Minuscule 1143 (a portion of the manuscript) at the CSNTM