Definition
Minuscule 112 is a Greek minuscule manuscript of the New Testament, catalogued as number 112 in the Gregory‑Aland numbering system used for classifying New Testament Greek manuscripts.
Overview
The codex is written on parchment leaves and has been assigned by paleographic analysis to the 12th century. It contains the text of the four Gospels, although some portions are missing due to lacunae. The manuscript is part of the broader corpus of Greek minuscule manuscripts that are examined in New Testament textual criticism to assess the transmission and variants of the biblical text.
Etymology/Origin
The term “minuscule” refers to the style of Greek script employed, which developed from the 9th century onward and is characterized by its smaller, more cursive letters compared to the earlier uncial script. The numeral “112” indicates its sequential entry in the Gregory‑Aland catalogue, a system devised by Caspar René Gregory and later expanded by Kurt Aland to provide a uniform reference for New Testament manuscripts.
Characteristics
- Material: Parchment (animal skin).
- Date: Paleographically dated to the 12th century.
- Contents: Complete or near‑complete text of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John); some sections are lost.
- Script: Greek minuscule hand, typical of the medieval period.
- Formatting: Text is arranged in columns per page (commonly one column), with divisions according to the κεφαλαια (chapter headings) and τιτλοι (titles). Marginal apparatus may include lectionary markings, τιτλοι, and occasional scholia or commentary, though the specific nature of any commentary in Minuscule 112 varies among scholarly descriptions.
- Physical dimensions: The exact size of the leaves varies among catalogued descriptions; typical medieval Gospel codices range from 20 × 15 cm to 30 × 22 cm.
- Provenance: The manuscript’s early history and place of production are not definitively recorded; many similar codices were produced in monastic scriptoria throughout the Byzantine world.
- Current location: The codex is housed in a major research library or museum collection; precise repository information is recorded in the Institute for New Testament Textual Research (INTF) catalogue.
Related Topics
- Greek New Testament manuscripts – the broader body of handwritten copies of the New Testament in Greek, encompassing papyri, uncials, minuscules, and lectionaries.
- Minuscule script – the medieval Greek handwriting style that replaced uncial script for most literary production.
- Gregory‑Aland numbering – the standard system for cataloguing Greek New Testament manuscripts.
- Textual criticism of the New Testament – the scholarly discipline that evaluates manuscript evidence to reconstruct the most plausible original text.
- Institute for New Testament Textual Research (INTF) – the institute that maintains the official catalogues and databases of New Testament manuscripts.