| New Testament manuscript | |
_0002a.jpg) The first page of Matthew; the decorated headpiece | |
| Text | Gospels |
|---|---|
| Date | 13th century |
| Script | Greek |
| Now at | University of Michigan |
| Size | 13 cm by 9 cm |
| Type | Byzantine text-type / mixed |
| Category | none |
| Hand | neatly written |
| Note | marginalia |
Minuscule 544 (in theGregory-Aland numbering), 557 (in the Scrivener's numbering), ε 337 (inSoden's numbering),[1] is aGreekminusculemanuscript of theNew Testament, on parchment. The manuscript has complex contents.Palaeographically it has been assigned to the 13th century.[2]It was not adapted for liturgical use.
It came fromEpeiros and is currently housed at theUniversity of Michigan. It was digitised and is available online.
The codex contains the text of the fourGospels, on 256 parchment leaves (size 13 cm by 9 cm). The text is written in one column per page, 22 lines per page.[2] It is neatly written in minute hand. The style of writing resembles codex542 (Scrivener's 555).[3]
The text is divided according to theκεφαλαια (chapters), whose numerals are given at the margin in red,τιτλοι (titles of chapters) at the top and bottom of the several pages. There is also a division according to the smallerAmmonian Sections (in Mark 235 Sections, the last section in 16:12) in red, (no references to theEusebian Canons).[4][5] Theκεφαλαια and the Ammonian Sections are often put in wrong places. There are no lectionary markings at the margin for liturgical use.[3]
It contains lists of theκεφαλαια (tables of contents) to the last three Gospels, and pictures of the Evangelists: Matthew, Mark, and John.[5][4]The decorated head-pieces stand at the beginning of each Gospel.[3] It does not have lectionary markings at the margin (for liturgical use).[5] Thenomina sacra are contracted in usual way.
Errors ofiotacism (especially ει orι forη, ο for ω, and vice versa) are rare in the first two Gospels, but more frequent afterwards.[3]
The omissions by "homoioteleuton" (the same endings) are frequent (e.g. Matthew 10:37; Mark 9:43-46; 10:27.42; 12:39; 14:19; 15:14; Luke 10:27; John 3:31; 4:5; 5:32; 6:11.32.42; 8:14; 9:7; 12:34; 13:34; 14:17; 17:21).[3]
N εφελκυστικον is very common, and though the punctuation is accurate, the sign of interrogation never occurs.[3]
This copy was transcribed from an older copy which was defective in Luke.[3] It has an unusual number of variations from the ordinary text, though none of the first rate of importance.[6]
Hermann von Soden classified the Greek text of the codex to the group Ia.[7]Aland did not place it in anyCategory.[8]According to theClaremont Profile Method it has an eclectic text. InLuke 1 it representsΠa, inLuke 10 mixedByzantine text, and inLuke 20 -Kx.[7]
Of the history of the codex 544 nothing is known until the year 1864, when it was in the possession of a dealer atJanina in Epeiros. It was then purchased from him by a representative ofBaroness Burdett-Coutts (1814–1906), a philanthropist,[9] along with other Greek manuscripts (among them codices532-546).[4] They were transported to England in 1870-1871.[10]
The manuscript was presented by Burdett-Coutts to Sir Roger Cholmely's School, and was housed at the Highgate (Burdett-Coutts III. 9), in London.[11] In 1922 it was acquired for the University of Michigan.[12] It is currently housed at theUniversity of Michigan (Ms. 25) inAnn Arbor.[2]
It was added to the list of the New Testament manuscripts byF. H. A. Scrivener (557) andC. R. Gregory (544).[5] Gregory saw it in 1883.[4]
Scrivener examined, described and collated its text. His collation was edited posthumous inAdversaria critica sacra in 1893.[13] It is rarely cited in the critical editions of the Greek New Testament.[14]
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