GREEK 187: Greek Palaeography

Do you want to learn how to read the Greek classics from the manuscripts in which they survive?

This course offers an introduction to late antique and medieval Greek book culture and handwriting. On the basis of selected manuscripts of a variety of texts (for example, the Homeric epics, Plato’s dialogues, classical tragedies and the Bible), we will trace the main lines of development of Greek script from the majuscule (uncial) of the earliest codices to the minuscule of Byzantine manuscripts and the type of early printed books in Renaissance Italy. Although the focus will be on deciphering, transcribing, and contextualizing handwriting in various styles, we will also discuss material aspects of the manuscripts (codicology), important institutions of book culture (scriptoria and libraries, education and schooling, patronage, etc.), as well as basic elements of transmission and text editing. In this context, we will look into important works of reference and useful online tools. Towards the end of the semester, we will examine a few original Greek codices from Harvard’s manuscript collection at Houghton Library.