This volume consists of a beautifully illuminated Mamluk codex. It contains a carefully copied translation of the Psalms and related texts into Arabic as well as a guide how to approach them. In a lengthy introduction, the Psalms are contextualized both in historical (Biblical) time and within the ongoing tradition. All across the codex, text-critical notations are made referring to a number of Biblical versions in different languages. The reader is further taught that Psalms are divided into categories based on their literary genre and advised how to identify its theological message. As such, this codex servers as a witness to the reading practice and the conceptualization of the Psalter in the Coptic Orthodox tradition in Mediaeval times. Contents:. Fol. 1r: A note in Ottoman Turkish. Fol. 2r-32r: Introduction: a lengthy text by Simʿān ibn Kalīl divided according to seven 'isagocial' questions. Across the codex, text-critical notations are made referring to a number of biblical versions in different languages and is likely connected to the Coptic intellectual Ibn al-ʿAssāl, who was active in the 13th century. Seven aspects of the text to have in mind when reading the Psalms, reportedly based on Athanasios of Alexandria and other Church Fathers. The first pertains to the division of the Psalms into five layers of interpretation; the second categorizes different kinds of Messianic prophecies in the Psalms; the third gives instructions of which Psalms should be read at what hour of the day; the fourth gives an historical-biblical account narrating the introduction of reading the Psalms in the temple; the fifth discusses the authorship of the various Psalms that David collected; the sixth argues that the Psalms contain all the other genres of the Bible and gives examples of Psalms relating to historical events, to laws, and to prophecies; the seventh divides the Psalms according to topic. Fols. 32v-36v: Excerpts from Eusebius, Gregory the theologian, and John Chrysostom. Fol. 37r: (blank). Fols. 37v-38r: Geometrical pattern and illustration of David each taking up a single page. Fols. 38v-282v: Psalms 1-150 divided into five books. Fol. 282v: Notes on the division of Psalms into five books. Fols. 283r-v: Psalm 151. Fol. 284r: (blank). Fols. 284v-312r, Biblical Odes. 1. The First Song of Moses, fols. 284v-286r. 2. The Second Song of Moses, fols. 286v-292r. 3. The Prayer of Hannah, fols. 292r-293v. 4. The Song of Habakkuk, fols. 293v-296r. 5. (i) The [first] Prayer of Isaiah, fols. 296v-297v. 5. (ii) The [second Prayer] of Isaiah, fols. 298r-299v. 5. (iii) The [third Prayer] of Isaiah, fols. 299v-300v. 5. (iv) The [fourth Prayer] of Isaiah, fols. 300v-301v. 6. The Prayer of Jonah, fols. 301v-303r. 7. The Prayer of Azariah, fols. 303r-305v. 8. The Song of the Three Young Men, fols. 305v-310v. 9. Magnificat, fols. 310v-311r. 10. The Song of Zacharias, fols. 311v-312r. 11. Prayer of Symeon, fol. 312v. 12. Prayer of Hezekiah, fols. 312v-314r. 13. Prayer of Manasseh, fols. 314r-316r. 14. Gloria/Great Doxology, attributed to Athanasios, fols. 316r-320r. Fol. 320r-v The Lord's Prayer. Fol. 320v-321v, The Nicene Creed. Fols. 312v-321v: Prayers, additional Odes, and excerpts by Athanasios of Alexandria. Fols. 322r-332r: Twenty kathismata and instructions after which Psalm they should be read. Ps. 1 begins in the beautifully ornamented floral pattern on fol. 38v. Incipit:. بسم الله الخالق الحيّ الناطق. طوبي للرجل الذي لم يتبع راي المخالفين ولم يقف في طريق الخاطئين ولم يجالس المستهزئين. لكن في ناموس الرب إرادته. The odes are identified and excerpts of various parts are transcribed in Cureton and Rieu, Catalogus, pp. 3-6. The text contains no colophon, and is estimated to have been completed between the 13th and 16th centuries CE.
Psalms, Odes, Prayers
This material is held atBritish Library Asia, Pacific and Africa Collections
- Reference
- GB 59 Arundel Or 15
- Dates of Creation
- 13th century -16th century
- Language of Material
- Arabic Coptic
- Physical Description
- Codex fols. 332 Material: Oriental (thick) paper. Dimensions: ca 260 mm x 180 mm leaf [ ca 160-170 x 100-120 mm written]. Foliation: British Museum foliation in pencil; Coptic Epact numerals. Lines per page: Normally 7 lines/page. Script: Large Naskh and headings in Kufic and Muḥaqqaq. Scribe: (not mentioned, probably Jirgis Abū al-Mufaḍḍal b. Amīn al-Mulk Luṭf Allāh, ca. 1350, cf. Hjälm, 'Christian Bibles'). Ink: Black ink, with rubricated headings and text critical comments in red. Rubrics and headpieces in gold or white with blue backgrounds. Decoration: Lavishly decorated in Mamluk style. In addition to headpieces in various calligraphical styles typical of Mamluk manuscripts, it includes a large arabesque pattern as well an illustration of King David reminiscent of byzantine iconography (fol. 37v-38r). Flower-looking stamps in gold, blue and red are used at the end of a text unit. Elaborate head pieces in arabesque style are framing the beginning of the introduction on. fol. 2v and Psalm 1 on fol. 38v. Binding: British Museum binding. Condition: Good, although first two folios seem to be missing. Marginalia: Rich text-critical notations in Arabic and Coptic across the ms. The scribe compared the Arabic text in front of him with a range of texts, including various Arabic translations based on Syriac, Coptic, Greek, and Hebrew, as well as Coptic versions. Quire marks: Quinions; quire marks fully spelled out in Arabic (sādis kurrās etc) in the left upper corner of the recto. Other: The text is divided into 20 kathismata and doxai. Flowers in gold, blue, and red at the end of a literary/linguistic unit. Four dots arranged in a diamond is sometimes used.
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Other Finding Aids
Cureton, William and Charles Rieu, Catalogus codicum manuscriptorum orientalium qui in Museo Britannico asservantur. Pars secunda, codices arabicos amplectens (London: The British Museum, 1846-71), pp. 3-6.