Exposito Libri Numerorum [001]

Title: Exposito Libri Numerorum [001]
LC Subject: Manuscripts, Medieval Bible--Commentaries Manuscripts, Latin (Medieval and modern)
Repository: University of Oregon. Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives
Author: Rabanus Maurus, Archbishop of Mainz, 784?-856
Description: Manuscript document. Title devised by cataloger. Commentaries on the Book of Numbers by Saint Rabanus Maurus, in 4 volumes. Rabanus Marus was the Abbot of Fulda, as well as the Archbishop of Mainz. This text is a commentary on the Book of Numbers by German teacher and theologian Rabanus Maurus (776-856). The authorship of the text is divulged in three places within the text. The scribe denoted the author as Rabanus Maurus in the phrase that begins the preface, the phrase that begins Book I and the phrase that ends Book IV (see list of contents above). Rabanus Maurus was born of French parents in Mainz in 776. He completed his studies at Fulda and became deacon there in 801. In 802 he traveled to Tours and studied under the famous Alcuin. Rabanus became well-known for his successful teaching and drew many pupils around him as head of the convent school at Fulda. In 822 he was consecrated abbot of Fulda. In 847 he was drawn out of retirement to become archbishop of Mainz. He died on 4 February 856. In addition to successful teaching of literature, science and theology, Rabanus was an erudite Biblical scholar. He wrote commentaries on all of the books of the New and Old Testaments and many of the Apocryphal ones. (McClintock and Strong, p. 1) MS 9 contains commentary on all 36 chapters of the Book of Numbers. The text is divided into four books. Each book is divided into a number of chapters (17, 25, 12 and 12, respectively). However, these chapters and book divisions do not match up with the actual chapter divisions of the Book of Numbers. As a remedy to this problem, another scribe marked the true biblical chapters at the top of the recto and verso of each leaf. Collation: Large folio in 10 gatherings of 8 (except 10_). With signatures. Vertical catchwords at the foot of the final verso of each quire. Rubricated headings on each page indicate book and chapter. Origin: Northern France. Decoration: 3 large and 2 smaller illuminated initials with zoomorphic elements, also alternating blue initials with red tracery, and rubricated initials with blue tracery; f1r (12 line knotted green N upon red square entangled with serif of lion); f2v (11+ line Large blue L with Agape lion in green with floral tail); f63r (blue faced lion inside blue D, upon gold square, 4 lines); f18v (Large blue 35 line L, with foot of a Lion headed bird with floral serif proclaiming from its mouth). Binding: rebound in 2009, in dark brown calf over laminated boards of 4 layer rag mat board.
Provenance: Donation/Purchase Julia Burgess, 1935-1942.
Work Type: manuscripts (documents)
Location: France
Date: 1160/1170
Identifier: MS_009_001
Item Locator: MS 009
Rights: No Copyright - United States
Dc Rights Holder: University of Oregon. Libraries. Special Collections & University Archives
Use Restrictions: Property rights reside with Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries. All requests for permission to publish collection materials must be submitted to Special Collections & University Archives.
Language: Latin
Type: Image
Format: image/tiff
Material: vellum
Set: University of Oregon Special Collections Manuscripts and Rare Books
Institution: University of Oregon
Layout: 85 unnumbered leaves : 41 x 31 cm 2 columns of 40 lines, separated by a 2 cm margin, upon a writing area of 28 x 22cm. Visible pricking and ruling by point, to include vertical margins.