London, BL, Add. 12137
source date: A. H. 250 and 270
edition published: 2023-04-21-05:00
language: ar; ar-Syrc; ar-Syrn; cop; de; en; fr; grc
availability: Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)

United Kingdom, London, British Library, Oriental Manuscripts, https://bl.syriac.uk/ms/9, Add. 12,137, London, BL, Add. 12,137, BL Add MS 12137, William Wright, Catalogue of the Syriac Manuscripts in the British Museum Acquired since the Year 1838, 75, William Wright, Catalogue of the Syriac Manuscripts in the British Museum Acquired since the Year 1838, LXXV

[This manuscript contains: The text exhibits the Ammonian sections, each being referred to the proper canon of Eusebius. In total, including sub-sections, this manuscript contains 1 item.]

Syriac

title: The text exhibits the Ammonian sections, each being referred to the proper canon of Eusebius.
The lessons are indicated in the usual way.

In its present state it is made up of parts of four vellum manuscripts, the defects of which are supplied by paper leaves.

214 ff.

On fol. 1b there is a cross:, i.e.φῶς ζωή.

On fol. 214 a there is another cross, the words forming which are a specimen of barbarous Greek. “The cross, the weapon of the Christian.”

- On fol. 213bis the following note, written by the above-mentioned Samuel, relating to the book in its present form.

ܟ̇ܢ̣ܫ ܘܕܒܩ ܠܟܬܒܐ ܗܢܐ ܩܕܝܫܐ ܫܡܘܐܠ ܐܟܣܢܝܐ. ܘܐܝܬܘܗܝ ܕܡܬܝܕܥ̇ ܚܒܝܫܝܐ ܒܓܘܙܪܬܐ. ܒܐܪܥܐ ܕܡܨܪܝܢ. ܘܟܢܫܬܗ ܡܢ ܡܨܪܝܢ. ܘܐܝܬܘܗܝ ܕܕܝܪܐ ܕܒܝܬ ܝ̇ܠܕܬ ܐܠܗܐ ܕܒܡܕܒܪܐ ܕܐܒܐ ܡܩܪܝ. ܘܡܪܝܐ ܢܚ̇ܣ̣ܐ ܠܟܠ ܕܡܗ̇ܦܟ ܠܗ. ܠܗ̇ ܠܕܝܪܐ ܕܐܡܪܝܐ. ܡܢ ܠܥܠ. ܘܡܪܝܐ ܢܚܣܐ ܠܟܠ ܕܐܫܬܘܦ. (sic) ܐܢ ܒܚܪܝܬܐ ܘܐܢ ܒܩܕܡܝܬܐ. ܘܟܠ ܐܢܫ ܐܝܟ ܨܠܘܬܗ ܦܬ݂ܩ (sic) ܐܡܝܢ ܘܐܡܝܢ♱

Samuel, a stranger, known as the recluse in Gozartā, in Egypt, collected and bound this holy book. And I collected it from Egypt. And it belongs to the convent of the Mother of God, which is in the desert of Abbā Macarius;” etc.

In the binding of this volume there have been preserved, though in a mutilated condition, two very ancient Arabic documents. The one,fol. 1 a, written in an almost Kūfic character, is a patent of manumission (), granted by the amīr Ahmad ibn Tūlūn to Ahmad ibn Karā(), and therefore dating from between A. H. 250 and 270, A.D. 864 and 883.

The other,fol. 214b, written in a current naskhī, appears to be a statement of the amount of tax due by certain places or communities in Egypt for the years 294 and 295 of the Hijra, dated A.H. 296, A.D. 909.

https://bl.syriac.uk/ms/1161, Add. 12,137, foll. 2–177, London, BL, Add. 12,137, foll. 2–177, BL Add MS 12137, foll. 2-177

[This manuscript contains: The four Gospels according to the Peshitta version. In total, including sub-sections, this manuscript contains 5 items.]

Syriac

Foll. 2b-177b
title: The four Gospels according to the Peshitta version
The lessons are indicated by ܩ on the margins, with the appropriate rubric at the top of the column, and ܫ at the end.
  Foll. 2b-61b
  title: The Gospel of S. Matthew, according to the Peshitta version
  Foll. 61b-99a
  title: The Gospel of S. Mark, according to the Peshitta version
  Foll. 99a-163b
  title: The Gospel of S. Luke, according to the Peshitta version
  Foll. 163b-177b
  title: The Gospel of S. John, according to the Peshitta version
  As far as ch. vi. 52.

Vellum, about 10 3/4 in. by 8 1/4, consisting of 176 leaves. The quires, 18 in number, were originally signed with arithmetical figures (e.g. �, fol. 40; ��; fol. 50; ��, fol. 60; ���, fol. 70; ���, fol. 80); but a later hand has employed the letters of the alphabet for this purpose. Each page is divided into two columns, of from 22 to 25 lines. [The original description of this manuscript by William Wright includes characters, symbols, or illustrations which cannot be represented. Please consult the attached image, vol. 1, p. 50.]

Vellum

176 ff. 10 3/4 × 8 1/4

The quires, 18 in number, were originally signed with arithmetical figures (e.g. ,fol. 40; ;fol. 50; ,fol. 60; ,fol. 70; ,fol. 80)

- Amissing leaf, containing S. Matthew x. 10 — 26, has been supplied on paper. See below,no. V.

Each page is divided into two columns, of from 22 to 25 lines.

The writing is a fine Estrangela of the 6th or 7th century.

See additions.

Vowels added.See additions.

See additions.

[N.B., folio location may not be available for some items below.]

- A later hand has employed the letters of the alphabet for signing the quires.

- Vowels have been added in the first 61 leaves by a much later hand (ܰ, ܶ, ܺ, ܳ, , or, , , ,).

- Many lessons have been noted by two later hands, one of which has introduced a marginal division of the Gospels into sections. Of these there are 22 in S. Matthew, 13 in S. Mark, 23 in S. Luke, and 6 in the remaining portion of S. John.

6th or 7th century

Manuscript description based on Wright's Catalogue . abbreviated by the Syriaca.org editors.

William Wright Catalogue of Syriac Manuscripts in the British Museum Acquired since the Year 1838 London 1870 LXXV. I. 1:50

https://bl.syriac.uk/ms/1162, Add. 12,137, foll. 178–179, 186, London, BL, Add. 12,137, foll. 178–179, 186, BL Add MS 12137, foll. 178-179, 186

[This manuscript contains: The Gospel of S. John, according to the Peshitta version. In total, including sub-sections, this manuscript contains 1 item.]

Syriac

Foll. 178-179,
and 186.
title: The Gospel of S. John, according to the Peshitta version
ch. vi. 35 — ch. vii. 2, and ch. x. 3—20.

Three vellum leaves, about 10 1/8 in. by 8. Each page is divided into two columns, of from 23 to 25 lines.

Vellum

3 ff. 10 1/8 × 8

Each page is divided into two columns, of from 23 to 25 lines.

Written in a fine Estrangela of the 6th century.

See additions.

[N.B., folio location may not be available for some items below.]

- Some lessons are indicated on the margins by two later hands, as in no. I.

Regarding the paper leaves foll. 180—185, see no. V.

6th century

Manuscript description based on Wright's Catalogue . abbreviated by the Syriaca.org editors.

William Wright Catalogue of Syriac Manuscripts in the British Museum Acquired since the Year 1838 London 1870 LXXV. II. 1:51

https://bl.syriac.uk/ms/1163, Add. 12,173, foll. 187–207, London, BL, Add. 12,173, foll. 187–207, BL Add MS 12173, foll. 187-207

[This manuscript contains: The Gospel of S. John, according to the Peshitta version. In total, including sub-sections, this manuscript contains 1 item.]

Syriac

Foll. 187-207
title: The Gospel of S. John, according to the Peshitta version
ch. x. 20—xix. 29
The end of one lesson is marked in the text by the word ܫܠܡ(fol. 187 a).

Vellum, about 10 1/2 in. by 8 1/8, consisting of 21 leaves. Each page is divided into two columns, of from 22 to 24 lines.

Vellum

21 ff. 10 1/2 × 8 1/8

Each page is divided into two columns, of from 22 to 24 lines.

Written in a good, regular Estrangela of the 6th century.

See additions.

[N.B., folio location may not be available for some items below.]

- Other lessons have been noted on the margins by several hands of later date. The word ܢܘܣܝܐ in red, on the lower margin of fol. 196 b, means “trial of the pen,” ܢܘܣܝܐ ܕܚܨܪܐ, or “trial of the ink,” ܢܘܣܝܐ ܕܕܝܘܬܐ.

Regarding the paper leaves foll. 208—211, see no. V.

6th century

Manuscript description based on Wright's Catalogue . abbreviated by the Syriaca.org editors.

William Wright Catalogue of Syriac Manuscripts in the British Museum Acquired since the Year 1838 London 1870 LXXV. III. 1:51

https://bl.syriac.uk/ms/1164, Add. 12,137, foll. 212–213, London, BL, Add. 12,137, foll. 212–213, BL Add MS 12137, foll. 212-213

[This manuscript contains: The Gospel of S. John, according to the Peshitta version. In total, including sub-sections, this manuscript contains 1 item.]

Syriac

Foll. 212-213
title: The Gospel of S. John, according to the Peshitta version
ch. xxi. 12 to the end
ܫܠܡ ܠܡܟܬܒ ܐܘܢܓܠܝܘܢ ܩܕܝܫܐ ܟܪܘܙܘܬܐ ܕܝܘܚܢܢ ܫܠܝܚܐ ܚܕ ܡܢ ܬܪ̈ܥܣܪ ܕܡܠܠ ܝܘܢܐܝܬ ܒܐܦܣܣ. ܫܠܡ ܠܡܟܬܒ ܒܟܬܒܐ ܗܢܐ ܐܘ̈ܢܓܠܣܛܐ ܬܠܬܐ ܡܬܝ ܠܘܩܐ ܝܘܚܢܢ. .
The manuscript, therefore, from which these two leaves were taken, contained only the three Gospels of S. Matthew [...] , S. Luke [...] and S. John [...] .

Two vellum leaves about 10 1/8 in. by 8. Each page is divided into two columns, of 23 or 24 lines.

Vellum

2 ff. 10 1/8 × 8

Each page is divided into two columns, of 23 or 24 lines.

Written in a good, regular Estrangela of the 8th century. See additions.

See additions.

In a current hand.See additions.

In Estrangela.See additions.

Written in a good, current hand of the 10th century. See additions.

- A later hand has placed ܕ̄ on the margin, opposite ܬܠܬܐ, and added ܘܐܦ ܡܪܩܘܣ.

- Colophon

After the usual doxology, there follow two notes, but both have been erased, so as to be now almost illegible. The first begins:

ܐܬܚܦܛ ܕܝܢ . . . ܟܬܒܐ ܗܢܐ ܡܪܝ ܝܘܚܢܢ ܩܫܝܫܐ ܡܢ ܥܘܡܪܐ ܩܕܝܫܐ ܕܡܪܝ ܗܒܝܠ ܛܘܒܢܐ. . .

Mār John the priest, from the holy convent of the blessed Mār Abel, [probably the convent of Mār Abel in Ma’dān, ܡܥܪܢ, mentioned by Assemani, Bibl. Orient., t. ii. Dissert. de Monophys., art. ix.] used diligence and . . . this book . . .

- Of the other only a few unimportant words can be deciphered.

- On fol. 213b are two notes, the one stating that this book belonged to the convent of S. Mary Deipara, the other that it was bound by one Ephraim, a stranger or guest (ܐܟܣܢܝܐ, ξένος) in that convent, from the convent of Sergius near Balad(ܒܠܕ, ). See Assemani, Bibl. Orient. t. ii. Dissert. de Monophys., art. ix., Balada and Monasterium S. Sergii.

ܕܒܩ ܘܨܒܬ ܠܟܬܒܐ ܗܢܐ ܐܦܪܝܡ ܐܟܣܢܝܐ ܡܢ ܥܘܡܪܐ ܕܩܕܝܫܐ ܡܪܝ ܣܐܪܓܝܣ ܕܒܐܬܪ ܕܥܪ̈ܒܝܐ ܘܒܠܕ ܡܪܝܐ ܢܚܣܐ ܠܗ ܘܠܟܠ ܕܐܫܬܘܬܦ. ܐܡܝܢ..

ܐܝܬܘܗܝ ܟܬܒܐ ܗܢܐ ܐܘܢܓܠܝܘܢ ܕܕܝܪܐ ܕܒܝܬ ܝܠܕܬ ܐܠܗܐ ܕܣܘܪ̈ܝܝܐ ܕܒܡܕܒܪܐ ܕܡܨܪܝܢ ܘܠܐ ܐܢܫ ܫܠܝܛ ܒܡܠܬܐ ܕܐܠܗܐ ܕܢܘܒܕܝܘܗܝ ܒܚܕ ܡܢ ܙܢܝ̈ܢ ܡܢܗ̇ ܕܕܝܪܐ ܕܐܡܝܪܐ ܚܘܣ ܐܚܘܢ ܥܠ ܢܦܫܟ ܘܠܐ ܬܣܥܐ.

8th century

See additions.

Manuscript description based on Wright's Catalogue . abbreviated by the Syriaca.org editors.

William Wright Catalogue of Syriac Manuscripts in the British Museum Acquired since the Year 1838 London 1870 LXXV. IV. 1:51

https://bl.syriac.uk/ms/1165, Add. 12,137, foll. 19, 180–185, 208–211, London, BL, Add. 12,137, foll. 19, 180–185, 208–211, BL Add MS 12137, foll. 19, 180-185, 208-211

[This manuscript contains: The Gospel of S. Matthew, according to the Peshitta version; The Gospel of S. John, according to the Peshitta version. In total, including sub-sections, this manuscript contains 2 items.]

Syriac

Fol. 19
title: The Gospel of S. Matthew, according to the Peshitta version
ch. x. 10—26

Foll. 180-185 and
208-211.
title: The Gospel of S. John, according to the Peshitta version
ch. vii. 2 — x. 3 ; ch. xix. 29—xxi. 12

Foll. 19, 180—185, and 208—211, are leaves of a thick, glazed paper, about 10 3/8 in. by 8, written in double columns.

Paper

11 ff. 10 3/8 × 8

Written in double columns

Written in a rude Estrangela, by one Samuel (bar Cyriacus), a recluse of Gozartā, (ܓܘܙܪܬܐ) in Egypt, towards the end of the 11th century. See additions at top.

11th century Gozartā (ܓܘܙܪܬܐ) in Egypt

Manuscript description based on Wright's Catalogue . abbreviated by the Syriaca.org editors.

William Wright Catalogue of Syriac Manuscripts in the British Museum Acquired since the Year 1838 London 1870 LXXV. V. 1:51-52