Expert: Maria - 8/10/2010

Question
Hello there.

What is the earliest extant original manuscript from antiquity?

I've recently been watching Kenneth Clark's landmark TV series from the 1960s - Civilisation - he mentions the Carolingian Renaissance and the efforts of Alcuin of York and others in copying classical texts. I also know that a lot of our knowledge of the classics came via the Byzantines and the Muslims in the centuries following Charlemagne.

I also know about the Codex Sinaiticus, the Codex Vaticanus and fragments such as the Rylands Papyrus from the 4th century and earlier.

But Kenneth Clark (in the first episode) specifically refers to only 3 or 4 original manuscripts having survived from Latin authors of antiquity until the present day - what were they and where could I see them? Feel free to recommend any books on this subject - just finished reading James Hannam's 'God's Philosophers: How the Medieval World Laid the Foundations of Modern Science'.

If anyone can enlighten me I'd be very happy...

PS -  This is a wonderful resource - I've tried a Google Search and Yahoo Answers :(

Answer
Hello,

We have a vast manuscript tradition of Latin authors that have survived thanks to amanuenses, i.e. monastic scribes who  in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance copied classical texts, in their monasteries in Italy, France, Germany and Ireland.

For example,  the Codex Ambrosianus  which derives its name from the Ambrosian Library at Milan, where it is preserved, is probably as old as the seventh century and  contains Tibullus and Catullus works; the Codex Maffeianus of Cicero's Philippics  named from the library of Maffeo of Verona, Italy, dates back to  the 11th century; the codex Palatinus, Rome, 12th century, contains Cicero’s De Officiis; etc.

Anyway I don’t understand which original  manuscript  Kenneth Clark  meant to refer to.

As for our knowledge of the classics via the Byzantines in the centuries following Charlemagne, it refers to Greek authors rather than to Latin works, as after the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453, many  scholars fled to Italy, especially to Florence, bringing with them important books and Greek manuscripts.

To conclude, I have to tell you that your question has to do with classical philology and the study of codices rather that to Ancient/Classical history.

Best regards,
Maria