Strasbourg, Bibliothèque nationale et universitaire, Ms 326

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. X^1/3, 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

(1r) ›Incipiunt uersus bedae pre[…]‹ Naturas rerum uarias labentis et … — … Quis legit astra super mente tueredeum [diem]

(1r) Capitula. ›Incipit liber bedae presb[iteri]‹ I. De quadrifario dei opere … — … XXV. De aere

(1v-10r) Text ›De quadrifario dei opere‹ […]ratione distinguitur. Primo quod … — … usque ad occidentem extenditur. ›Explicit de natura rerum.‹

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

(10r) Capitula I.De temporibus horis et momentis … — … De sexta aetate.

(10r) ›I. De temporibus horis et momentis‹ Tempora momentis horis diebus mensibus annis saeculis aetatibus diuiduntur

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…".

(83r-104r) Bede. Chapter 66. Adam annorum CXXX genuit Sed, cui superuixit annis DCC … — … cum debito tanto patri honore condidit.

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.

(112r) Lunar zodiac table;

(112v) Feria table (weekdays coded S[abbato], D[ominica] and letters "II" to "VI"),

(113r) Tabula Dionysii;

(113v-114r) Five further tables for calculating the weekdays (the first four coded with letters A-G while the fifth with letters D[ominica], L[unae], M[artis], C[andidi circuli (?)], T, A[phroditis (?)], and S[aturni]. Explanatory text on f. 113v "Littere huius laterculi qui uocatur ratio sepri zodiaci eo quod…".

(114v-115r) ›Argumentum quota sit luna per decem et novem annos‹ Two Lunar letters AEIOV tables the first with Greek numerals"Haec figura grecis litteris et numeris computatur";

(115v) Rota of monthly lunar epacts;

(116r-v) two calendrical rotas (?);

(117r) Rota for feria of kalends;

(117v) Rota for calculating the zodiacal ascendent, divided in 12 wedge-shaped segments for each of the months accompanied by shortregula (for March: "So XI aut XII remanserint oriuntur pisces"); Cf. Libri computi, I, 6.

(118r) ›Quibus signis orientibus quae occident vel centrum caeli supra vel infra eodem tempore teneant subiecta formula continetur‹ Rota divided in 12 wedge-shaped segments for calculating the simultaneously rising and setting of the zodiacal signs:"ariete oriente II horis occidit libra et centrum superioris zodiaci tunc capricornus inferioris optinet cancer", "tauro oriente II horis occidit scorpius et centrum superioris zodiaci tunc aquarius inferioris optinet leo"; Cf. Libri computi, I, 6.

(118v) Two diagrams of solstices and equinoxes.

(119r) Two small rotae of the elements and their qualities and with the season; below ithorologium viatorum with explanatory text "Ianuaris cum decembri in horarum mensura concordat…".

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‹

A table with six columns showing how to represent number by the fingers. III digiti sinistra manu idem auricularis medicus in pudicus usque ad VIIII continent numerum I, II… VIIII … — … Continet dextra manus per iunsturas semper usque ad DCCCC milia C￣… D￣C￣C￣C￣C￣.

(129v-130r) Bede: De computo digitorum Cum ergo dicis I minimum in leua digitum inflectens in medium palmae artum in … — … sed ante aures retro respicientes.

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

(130r) ›De racione unciarum‹ Scripulus - sex siliquae | Dimidia sextula - duo scripuli et siliquae xii … — … Assis siue as - duodecim unciae Text in two columns with signs for eachuncia. Borst, Schriften, Vol. 3, pp. 1305-07.

(130v) Excerpt from Eucherius of Lyon 's Instructionum Liber, Book 2, chapter 13-15: ›De ponderibus‹ Talentum est pondo LXII semis quod faciunt LXX libras arrice libra … — … quae ecclesiae ora celebra in sermonem nostrum uertuntur ex greco.

(130v-131r) ›De probatione auri et argenti‹ Omne aurum purum cuiuslibet ponderisomni argento … — … sicut prima lectionis huius fronte praefixum est. Borst, Schriften, Vol. 3, pp. 1307-08.

(131r-v) ›De mensura caerae et metalli in operibus fusilibus‹ In fundendis operibus cuius ponderis metallum quodlibet ad certum … — … auri librae XVIIII et duo decies VIII denarii quod sunt unciae tres et denarii XVI. Borst, Schriften, Vol. 3, pp. 1309-10.

(131v-132r) ›Ambrosii Macrobii Theodosii de mensura et magnitudine terrae et circuli per quem solis iter est‹ In omni orbe uel sphera medietas centrum uocatur … — … ambitum stadiorum habere trecenties centena milia et insuper CLXX milia. Borst, Schriften, Vol. 3, pp. 1310-13.

(132r-133r) ›Item eiusdem de mensura et magnitudine solis‹ His dictis quibus mensura quam terrae uel ambitus uel diametros habet … — … Ergo ex his dicendum solem occies terra esse maiorem. Borst, Schriften, Vol. 3, pp. 1313-16.

(133r) ›Felicis Capellae de mensura lunae‹ Luna item circuli sui sexcensimam optinet portionem … — … Ipsum uero circulum centies maiorem esse tellure. Borst, Schriften, Vol. 3, pp. 1316-18.

(133r-v) ›Eiusdem argumentum quo magnitudo terrae depraehensa est‹ Eratostenes philosophus idemque geometra subtilissimus magnitudinem terraeni orbis nosse uolens … — … nullam humanae coniecturae dimensionem admittit. Borst, Schriften, Vol. 3, pp. 1318-20.

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

›Argumentum quot horas luna in unaquaque nocte luceat‹ Si uis scire quot horas luna in unaquaque lucet nocte … — … iterum descendit computandi racio.

›Expositio de eadem re‹ Traditur autem secundum quosdam argumentum … — … pro punctis iii semisse pro ii quadrante pro uno.

›De accensione lunae‹ Si quis nosse desiderat qua hora luna renouetur … — … in decimae horae noctis primo puncto finem accipit.

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

(134v) ›De solis eclypsi quando visa sit‹ Anno dominicae incarnationis DCCLX facta est eclypsis solis … — … Item anno DCCCXII fuit eclypsis solis idus maii hora diei quasi septima in XXVIIII parte tauri. Borst, Schriften, Vol. 3, pp. 1277-79.

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.

(150r-151r) Argumentum ad lunam ›Argumentum ad lune cursum turbatum anno domini infrascripto aquis palatio repertum est‹ Anno ab incarnatione domini DCCXVI quod raro aliquando euenit … — … sine ulla alia interpositione ueniunt.

(159r) ›Incipit computatio circuli magni paschae quigentorum XXX annorum duorum in se ipsum revolve‹

(163v-164r) ›De quattuor temporibus‹ Vernum tempus ingreditur VIII kalendis marti … — … proceritas eius et altitudo XXIIIIor pedes.

(164r-v) ›De divisionibus temporum‹ Diuisiones temporum XIIII sunt id est athomus momentum … — … de prima diuisione temporis quam athomum diximus.

(164v) ›Item de divisionibus temporum‹ Diuisiones temporum sunt XIIII id est athomus momentum … — … mundus uero est uniuersitas que constat caelo terra et mari.

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)

(168v-170r) Verses: Ab ioue principium magno deduxit aratus … — … Vatibus ignotis priscis sine honore feruntur.

(168v-171v) Scholia Basileensia Quaeritur quare ab ioue coepit et non a musis … — … mortalibus portat uirgo figuratur stellis XVIIII.

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:

(173v-179r) Calendar of the 12 months. Cf. Libri computi, Lib. I, 3.

(179v-180r) Table Litterae punctatae.

(180v) Pagina regulares.

(181r) Lunar Letters A-K table.

(181v) Table with rules for the intercalation.

(182) Table for the monthly lunar epacts. The table was accompanieed by a text, which was erased. Only an initial P visible.

(182v-184v) ›Cursus lunaris de diebus singulis per XVIIII annos‹ Lunar table for the 19-year cycle with explanatory text on f. 184v"In isto predicto circulo ostenditur aetas naturalis lunae in unoquoque die…".

(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.

(186r–190v) On the duration of the day and the night throughout the year. In una parte zodiaci id est in XXIIII^or horis et XXI ostentis adcrescunt diei uel nocti ostenta IIII^or… In una die et XXor ostento adcrescunt ostenta IIII^or… In tredecim diebus et CCLXXIII ostentis adcrescunt ostenta LII … In XV partibus zodiaci adcrescit hora una … Partes XC quarta pars anni solaris est … — … In utroque aequinoccio dies habet horas XII. Nox horas XII. A table showing the length of the day for each day of the year"I KL IAN dies horarum VI et puncta IIIor…".

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‹

List of chapters: I. De astronomiae nominae. II De inuentoribus astronomiae

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

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

List of chapters: I. De mundo. II. De athomis

›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.

Mense ianuario intrante die primo secundo exiente die septimo … — … isti dies per omnia obseruandi sunt.

(200r) Mense ianuario die secundo et VI et XVI sanguinem noli minuare … — … ab illo studium declinare memento.

(200r) Item ubi abuerit ianuarii dies IIII et dies VI aut dies XXX … — … III ides decembri XVIII kalendas ianuarii.

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, Schriften	Borst, 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 général	Catalogue général des manuscrits des bibliothèques publiques de France: Départements. Paris.
Dell'Era, Baseleensia	Dell’Era, Antonio. “Gli Scholia Basileensia a Germanico,” Memorie della Classe di Scienze morali, storiche e filologiche. Ser. 8, 23 (1979): 301–79.
Juste, Observation	Juste, 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.
Leonardi	Leonardi, Claudio. "I codici di Marziano Capella," Aevum 34 (1960): 1-99 and 411-524.
Lott, Transmission	Lott, 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 1	Munk 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 2	Munk 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.

Catalogued by: Ivana Dobcheva

(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).