Vatican Terence

This Carolingian manuscript contains all six comedies by Publius Terentius Afer (around 195 – around 159 BC)
It was probably made after a model from late antiquity and gives us an insight into the theatre tradition of that time
The codex is famous for a remarkable author portrait and 5 illuminated ‘mask cabinets’

Vatican Terence

Vat. Lat. 3868 Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (Vatican City, Vatican City State)

Description

Vatican Terence

Publius Terentius Afer (c. 195 – c. 159 BC), commonly known in English as Terence, was a playwright of the Roman Republic whose comedies were first performed between 170 and 160 BC. They were regarded as prime examples of clean Latin and were used in classrooms from the early Middle Ages to modern times. Of the more than 600 surviving manuscripts of the work, around a dozen illuminated copies exist, of which the Vatican copy from the Carolingian period is probably one of the most valuable due to its rarity. The manuscript, which probably originated at the court of Louis the Pious, is particularly famous for the prominently illuminated portrait of the author and the five full-page “mask cabinets” representing the characters of the respective plays. In addition, there are 144 illustrations that refer to the performance of the comedies. The early medieval manuscript thus gives us a wonderful insight into the theater tradition of late antiquity.

Codicology

Alternative Titles: Terentius Vaticanus
Terenz - alle Kömödien
Codex Vaticanus Latinus 3868
Terentius, Comoediae (cum glossis marginalibus et interlinearibus)
Terenzio Vaticano
Type: Manuscript on parchment
Size / Format: 184 pages / 34.0 × 29.0 cm
Origin: Germany
Date: Ca. 825
Epochs: Early Middle Ages
Style: Carolingian
Genre: Literature / Poetry
Language: Latin
Script: Carolingian minuscule and Rustic capitals
Illustrations: 1 author portrait
141 miniatures illustrating scenes from the comedies
5 miniatures of shelves with masks
Content: Andria (The woman of Andros)
Eunuchus (The Eunuch)
Heauton Timorumenos (The Self-Tormentor)
Adelphoe (The Brothers)
Phormio (The Phormion)
Hecyra (The Mother-in-law)
Artist / School: Hrodgarius (scribe)
Adelricus (illuminator, one of three)
Previous Owners: Napoleon