Create an Amazon Wedding Registry
Psalter, including Psalm 151 and The Book of Odes (Rahlfs 1088). Decoration: The first two psalms, with the titles and initial letters of every verse of the remainder, are written in gold. The manuscript is profusely illustrated throughout with miniatures painted on the margins of the leaves.
Language: Greek, Ancient
Physical Description
Material: Parchment.
Foliation: ff 208.
Dimensions: 230 x 220 mm.
Binding: Full goat leather binding, 20th century, British Library.
Scribe: Monk and presbyter Theodoros (of Caesarea)
Ownership
Origin: Eastern Mediterranean (Constantinople). Provenance: Theodore, protopresbyter of the Studios Monastery in Constantinople, made the manuscript for Abbot Michael, in 1066 (colophon, f 208r). Owned by Henry Perigal Borrell of Smyrna, who is reported to have obtained it from the library of Archbishop of Scio (diary of Frederick Madden, 2 February 1853). Purchased at sale of Henry Perigal Borrell, Sotheby’s, 2 February 1853, lot 65.
Source: British Library Add MS 19352, Theodore Psalter
Referenced as figure 224 in The military technology of classical Islam by D Nicolle
224. Manuscript, Studite Psalter 1066 AD, Byzantine, British Lib., Ms. Add. 19352, ff. 41, 45, 73, 74, 77, 99, 123, 141, 178 and 190, London.
Pole-Arms for cut and thrust by David Nicolle, an extract from The military technology of classical Islam
Referenced as figure 98 in Arms and armour of the crusading era, 1050-1350 by Nicolle, David. 1988 edition
98A-98S Studite Psalter, Byzantine manuscript, 1066 A.D. (British Library, Ms. Add. 19352, London, England)
98A—f.45; “The Betrayal”; 98B—f.7; 98C-98D—f.41[v]; 98E—f.65[63v Uriah] “overthrown warrior”; 98F—f.87[v] “Crucifixion”; 98G—f.74 “Job” [Joab]; 98H—f.73; 98I—f.98; 98J—f.123 “Massacre of the Innocents”; 98K—f.178; 98L—f.141; 98M-98Q—f.190[v]; 98R—f.191 “Goliath’s helmet”; 98S—f.182 “Goliath”.
The Studite Psalter is an important source in the study of Byzantine arms for a number of reasons, its date and provenance are known and its figures are relatively free from conventional archaisms. Among the weapons shown in these pictures are single- (98A) and double-edged swords (98G, 93H and 98J), maces including an early representation of a knobbed or flanged variety (98A, 98D, 98G and 98K) and a double-headed axe quite unlike those in the usual European tradition (98C).Also present are perhaps stylized representations of the improvised weapons used by a peasant levy(98P and 98Q) [letters showing through from other side]. Bows are conspicuouslyabsent[see 10v, 63v & 75r]. Shields include small kite-shaped (98F), larger round (98G) and small oval (98H) varieties. Helmets are mostly conical, one perhaps being of segmented construction (98B). They have aventails or detachable neckguards. On one occasion such a helmet has been thrown off its wearer’s head and suggests that an aventail could come adrift easily (98R). Armour consists of a short mail hauberk, in one picture clearly lacking the upper-arm defences of strips or splints which pose such problems of interpretation (98S). Elsewhere there is an early representation of mail chausses (98H), the lower parts of which are probably hidden inside the wearer’s leggings or boots.
