Description
The codex contains 291 parchment leaves (22.5 cm by 16.7 cm), with a complete text of the four Gospels. The leaves are arranged in quarto (four leaves in quire). The text is written in two columns per page, and 21 lines per column, in brown ink. According to Scrivener the manuscript is carefully and luxury written. The ornaments are in gold and colours.
The initial letters in gold and decorated. The letters are high, and round. They have breathings and accents.
It is an ornamented codex, with full marginalia, as well illuminations such as pictures and golden ornaments. It is written in well rounded uncials, Letters are in general an imitation of those used before the introduction of compressed uncials. The letters are compressed only at the end of line. It is shown in Tregelles' facsimile, the oblong omicrons creep at the end of lines 2 and 4. Samuel Prideaux Tregelles found that the "letters are in general an imitation of those used before the introduction of compressed uncials; but they do not belong to the age when full and round writing was customary or natural, so that the stiffness and want of ease is manifest".
The text is divided according to the κεφαλαια (chapters), whose numbers are given at the margin, and their τιτλοι (titles) at the top of the pages. There is also another division according to the smaller Ammonian Sections, with references to the Eusebian Canons. Number of sections in Gospel of Mark is 233 (usual is 235), the last section in 16:8.
It contains the Epistula ad Carpianum and Eusebian tables at the beginning of the manuscript, tables of the κεφαλαια (tables of contents) before each Gospel, golden ornaments, subscriptions at the end of each Gospel, and pictures. Before Gospel of Mark it has picture with the baptism of Jesus; before Gospel of John it has picture with the rays from the clouds, John stands, and Prochorus writes.
Read more about this topic: Codex Nanianus
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