Notam superponere studui. The Use of Annotation Symbols in the Early Middle Ages

Evina Steinová

About this Item

Pages: 301 p. Illustrations:15 tables b/w. Language(s):English. Publication Year:2019. Brepols, ISBN: 978-2-503-58170-5 - Paperback --- SUMMARY Early medieval manuscripts were commonly annotated not only by glosses but also by annotation symbols. These graphic signs inserted in manuscript margins provided manuscript text with layers of additional meaning and functionality. From the most common signs marking biblical quotations and passages of interest to the sophisticated systems of signs used by some of the early medieval scholars, annotation symbols represent perhaps the most common form of marginalia encountered in early medieval books. Yet, their non-verbal character proved a serious obstacle to their understanding and appreciation. This book represents the first systematic study of annotation symbols used in the Latin West between c. 400 and c. 900. Combining paleographic evidence with the evidence of written sources such as late antique and early medieval lists of signs, this book identifies the most important communities of sign users and conventions in use in the early Middle Ages. It explores some of the notable differences between regions, periods, linguistic communities and classes of users and reconstructs a fascinating history of the practice of using signs, rather than words, to annotate text. Those who work with early medieval manuscripts will, furthermore, find this book to be a practical handbook of the most common annotation symbols attested in early medieval Western manuscripts or discussed in ancient and medieval sources. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Chapter 1. The use of annotation symbols in Antiquity Chapter 2. The 21-sign treatise: inherited classical doxa in the early medieval Latin West Chapter 3. Transmission of other doxa with ancient roots in the Early Middle Ages Chapter 4. The revival of scholarly sign use in the Carolingian period Chapter 5. Annotation symbols in the Carolingian classroom Chapter 6. Signs used by Western scribes from Late Antiquity until the ninth century Conclusion Appendix I: Overview of the most important annotation symbols Appendix II: Latin sign treatises from the eighth to fifteenth century Appendix III: Annotation symbols in Bavarian manuscripts Bibliography Index of manuscripts Index of authors and texts annotated with signs Index of notable sign users.

Seller Inventory # ca2037

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Notam superponere studui. The Use of Annotation Symbols in the Early Middle Ages
• Binding: Brossura
• Condition: nuovo