154 - Middle Ages

Middle Ages The Passion of Saint Felicitas and Her Seven Sons, with the beginning of an exegesis. Latin manuscript on parchment. Late Carolingian-Romanesque minuscule with early Gothic tendencies. 27 lines. Text area: 32 x 20 cm. Leaf size: 38 x 25.5 cm. Probably Southern Germany/Austria, 1150–1200. Paleography: The script on the folio is a late Carolingian-Roman minuscule with early Gothic tendencies. A fully developed Textura quadrata has not yet emerged. A single, consistent scribe wrote it in two columns of approximately 27 lines each. The stroke style is rounded and calm, the word separation is clear, and the stems end simply or with a slight thickening. There is no consistent breaking of the loops, though isolated instances of loop fusion (such as in “de” or “pp”) are evident, suggesting a transitional phase. Characteristic features include the ct and st ligatures, the alternation between a long s within words and a rounded s at the end of words, and a predominantly two-story a. The d appears in both uncial and upright forms. Abbreviations are used moderately, primarily with nasal strokes and abbreviation loops (such as “dm¯,” “dñ,” “omñ”). The nomina sacra appear in the forms “xpm” and “xpi.” In addition, there is the “et” sign and the superscript abbreviation for “con-” or “-us.” Punctuation consists of a period and a punctus elevatus (a raised dot indicating a medium-length pause). Regarding the content: The conclusion of a *Passio*, likely that of Saint Felicitas and her seven sons (identification tentative, without cross-referencing the *BHL*). The text breaks off at the top of the page. It contains the interrogation of Martialis, who rejects idol worship and foretells the pagans’ punishment in eternal fire. Subsequently, Emperor Antoninus hands the brothers over to various judges. They kill them with lead whips, clubs, and by casting them into the abyss, and the mother is also beheaded. The text concludes by stating that all have become victors and martyrs of Christ. Recto, right column: Following the conclusion of a preceding doxology, there is a new passage rubricated in red (“Incipit expositio.”) with a red initial. The rubric is only partially legible; a reference to Gregory is possible but uncertain. The text is a sermon or exegesis based on Tobit 12:7 (“It is good to keep the king’s secret.”). It quotes Rom 8:29 and Rom 11:33 and interprets Moses, the Pharaoh’s daughter, the crossing of the Red Sea, the water from the rock, and the giving of the Law at Sinai typologically as foreshadowings. — Slightly browned and stained. Medieval - Passio of Saints Felicity and her seven sons, with the beginning of an exegesis. Latin manuscript on parchment. Late Carolingian-Romanesque minuscule with early Gothic tendencies. 27 lines. Written area: 32 x 20 cm. Leaf size: 38 x 25.5 cm. Probably southern Germany/Austria, 1150–1200. On the paleography: The script of the leaf is a late Carolingian-Romanesque minuscule with early Gothic tendencies. A fully developed textura quadrata is not yet present. A single, consistent hand wrote it in two columns of about 27 lines each. The ductus is rounded and calm, word separation is clear, and the stems end cleanly or with a slight thickening. There is no consistent breaking of the curves, but the occasional fusion of loops (for example, in “de” or “pp”) indicates a transitional phase. Characteristic features include the ct and st ligatures, the alternation of long s within words and round s at word ends, and a predominantly two-compartment a. The d appears in both uncial and upright forms. Abbreviation is moderate, mainly involving nasal strokes and abbreviation loops (for example, “dm¯,” “dñ,” “omñ”). The nomina sacra appear as “xpm” and “xpi.” In addition, there are the et-sign and the superscript abbreviation for con- or -us. Punctuation consists of the period and the punctus elevatus (a raised dot marking a medial pause). Regarding the content: Conclusion of a *Passio*, likely that of Saint Felicity and her seven sons. The text breaks off at the top of the page. It contains the interrogation of Martialis, who rejects idol worship and announces the punishment of the pagans in eternal fire. Emperor Antoninus then hands the brothers over to various judges, who kill them with lead-weighted scourges and clubs and by throwing them down a precipice; the mother is also beheaded. The text closes with the statement that all became victors and martyrs of Christ. Recto, right column: Following the end of a preceding doxology, a new text begins with a red rubric (“Incipit expositio.”) and a red initial. The rubric is only partially legible; a connection to Gregory is possible but uncertain. The text is a sermon or exegesis based on Tobit 12:7 (“It is good to keep a king’s secret”). It cites Romans 8:29 and Romans 11:33 and interprets Moses, Pharaoh’s daughter, the crossing of the Red Sea, the water from the rock, and the giving of the Law on Sinai typologically as prefigurations. Condition: Somewhat b