Thursday, August 22, 2013

Sinaiticus corrections - request for help

11
I am getting out of shape, I assume, but I could use some opinions (we are getting into a TC version of crowd-sourcing here).

In the following image (more detail here) there are two things I am less certain of.
Issue 1
First is the correction of ην ενδωμησις to η ενδωμησις on the first line(Rev 21:18). I am not completely sure if this is a C-corrector or a first generation one. The cross through the letter is larger than the undisputed C-corrections elsewhere on the page, and there is a large blob at the top of this stroke, consistent with the rather blobby appearance of the main letters surrounding this correction.

Issue 2
The second thing may be a good case of imagining things, but I am willing to throw it in anyway. On line 6, has υαλω been corrected to υελω? Both are of course existing spellings of the word. I see a small epsilon on top of the α, but I seem to be the only one.

Votes in the following format invited:

Issue 1: Suggestion correct / incorrect / I have no clue
Issue 2: Suggestion correct / incorrect / what have you been eating?

11 comments

  1. Regarding issue 2, it seems like the alpha is a bit shorter than the others in this text. I don't think it is a epsilon as much as the top part of the latter is fading.

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  2. Issue 1: suggestion highly plausible. The straightness, length, symmetry, and style of the cross match the original hand more than any other obvious corrections on the page

    Issue 2: suggestion implausible. Compare the flourish (if that's what it is) at the top of the A with the similar flourish at the top of the A in PANTI 3 lines down.

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  3. Issue 2: I agree with the others that this is just the edge of the letter A. It looks similar to that elsewhere, esp. see 21 lines above on ΑΥΤΗΣ.

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  4. By now convinced that everyone is right about issue 2. Thanks all.

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  5. I am not so sure about issue 2, Dirk. There is a horizontal stroke protruding beneath the "blob" of ink. That is clearly a separate stroke that runs all the way through the top of the letter. If you zoom all the way in on the VMR image, you will see a small trace of ink on the right side of the letter, which is the continuation of that stroke. This may well be a canceling stroke. What else could it be? If it is a canceling stroke, then you may be right about the epsilon, which clearly does look like an epsilon.

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  6. Issue 1: My impression is that cancellation dots tend to be a bit farther above the line. This looks more like a blot made at the inception of C's cancellation stroke.

    Issue 2: I agree with Brice that there does indeed seem to be a stroke protruding the blobby apex of the alpha. I don't see an epsilon there, though. This may be a mit imaginative, but what if this stroke, which, as it extends, betrays a slightly oblique stroke, is the remaining bottom part of an epsilon that was cancelled by yet another late corrector? Obviouvsly, this suggestion ought to be counted amongst the "whacky" ones.

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  7. On #2--It really does look like a small epsilon to me.

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  8. From looking at www.codexsinaiticus.org, as well as my NA 28, here are my answers to your two questions:

    1. It appears that the mark located at ἡ ἐνδώμησις was made by a second corrector, not a third. NA 28 and the sinaiticus.org website seem to confirm as much.

    2. The little blob you suggested appears to me to be a mark like what is seen in other places I checked out on the page of sinaiticus on the website. I'm not going to say you've been eating the wrong food, since you know more about textual critical issues than I do:) I've provided the link to Revelation 21:18 of Sinaiticus for anyone who wants to check. I like the website because you can look at the manuscripts under "standard" or "raking" lighting. Blessings to you! http://codexsinaiticus.org/en/manuscript.aspx?book=59&chapter=21&lid=en&side=r&verse=18&zoomSlider=0#59-21-11-15

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  9. Issue 2

    Regarding the horizontal line of the "alleged epsilon," notice a similar horizontal line at the tip of the next alpha. Perhaps an effect of fading ink? The other horizontal line extending out from the alpha looks like the end of a flourish from the cross stroke of the alpha.

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  10. Hi Dirk,

    Does Tischendorf have anything to say on these two places?

    On 1, I dunno.

    On 2, it sure looks like an epsilon. Is there a corrector who usually uses such small letters?

    Best,

    Tim Finney

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