Inedita from the MS. Hauniensis 1899

Abstract

The poems here presented are all found in the fragmentary manuscript Hauniensis 1899. Following a poetic exchange by John Geometres and a certain Stylianos, they form part of a content wise random selection of poetry followed by prose texts, of which the last one ends abruptly.

The earliest of the identified authors is John Geometres who was active in the second half of the 10th century, next comes Christopher of Mytilene who was born around the turn of the 10th century and died sometime after 1050 or 1068, John Mauropous who lived from 1000 until 1081 and Michael Psellos who lived from about 1018 to around 1081 marking a possible terminus post quem for the compilation. Most of the poems have, however, been transmitted to the manuscript as anonymous or with wrong authorship.

The manuscript consists of a quire of four bi-folios and codicological and palaeographical features suggest a time of production in the late 13th or early 14th century.

The edition of the inedita is presented with an introduction, notes, and translations.