#  CLASPHIL 285: Greek Palaeography 

 





 Semester:   Spring 

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 Year offered:  2017 

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 Link: [Course Website](https://canvas.harvard.edu/courses/22216) 

 

 

 

This course is intended as an introduction to late antique and medieval Greek book culture and handwriting. On the basis of selected manuscripts of a variety of texts, ranging from classical authors to the Bible and Byzantine writers, we will trace the main lines of development of Greek script from the uncial (majuscule) of the earliest codices to the minuscule of the manuscripts and early printed books of Renaissance humanists. Although the main focus will be on deciphering, transcribing and contextualizing various handwritings, we will also pay attention to material aspects of the manuscripts (codicology), important institutions of book culture (scriptoria and libraries, education and schooling, patronage, etc.) as well as to basic elements of transmission and text editing. In this context, we will look into important works of reference and useful online tools (such as manuscript catalogues, the *Repertorium griechischer Kopisten* and the database *Pinakes*), and discuss various ways of getting access to manuscript reproductions (microfilms, digital photographs, etc.). Towards the end of the course, we will examine a few original Greek codices from Harvard’s manuscript collection at Houghton Library.