For those wanting to compare the leaf shown at 7:30 with a modern printed text, it is the end of chapter 23 and much of chapter 24, from the Book of Ecclesiasticus, also known as the Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirach. It is not from the Book of Ecclesiastes.
Hi Kathy, thanks for your question. I checked, and the script from the two century pocket Bible leaves that I showed is actually about 2-3 millimetres tall. The leaves themselves are only about 4x6" (like a regular photographic print today), so they'd have to write small to fit in 40 lines of text. It's remarkable how tiny the script is, especially when you consider that the scribe would likely be using a quill pen and working by natural light. It must have been very hard on the eyes, and eyeglasses weren't available in the mid-13th century when these Bibles were scribed. The script on the other leaves I featured is larger, mostly around 0.5 cm, although some of the illuminated initials and the script on larger leaves like the Spanish is up to several centimetres tall.
Thanks very much for this. A very clear, interesting and informative introduction to this topic. 👍😀
This is really cool
For those wanting to compare the leaf shown at 7:30 with a modern printed text, it is the end of chapter 23 and much of chapter 24, from the Book of Ecclesiasticus, also known as the Wisdom of Jesus Son of Sirach. It is not from the Book of Ecclesiastes.
@21:35 I actually own an original manuscript from that same book, and great lecture
That's very neat - it's such a richly illuminated little book. And thank you :)
Jerome translated the Scriptures into common Latin in the late fourth century, not the seventh century. 8:45
Thanks for catching my errors! I appreciate the comments :)
Thanx
you keep saying the letters are about a millimeter tall. That can't be right. Centimeter maybe? Please remeasure.
Hi Kathy, thanks for your question. I checked, and the script from the two century pocket Bible leaves that I showed is actually about 2-3 millimetres tall. The leaves themselves are only about 4x6" (like a regular photographic print today), so they'd have to write small to fit in 40 lines of text. It's remarkable how tiny the script is, especially when you consider that the scribe would likely be using a quill pen and working by natural light. It must have been very hard on the eyes, and eyeglasses weren't available in the mid-13th century when these Bibles were scribed. The script on the other leaves I featured is larger, mostly around 0.5 cm, although some of the illuminated initials and the script on larger leaves like the Spanish is up to several centimetres tall.
@@peterhouston7079 (referring to a ruler; no words to express the amazement! )