Manuscript

Museum Meermanno, MMW, 10 D 7
(Herbarius / De medicamentis ex animalibus)

Codicology

Produced: France, ca. 900-1000
Location: Museum Meermanno, Hague, Netherlands
Type: Miscellany
Language: Latin
Folios: 90
Author: Pseudo-Apuleius / Sextus Placitus
Illustrated: Yes
Binding: 18th-century brown leather
Media: Vellum
Script: Carolingian minuscule
Dimensions: Height: 23.5 cm Width: 17 cm
Folio 83r

Description

Contains a herbal, the Herbarius of Pseudo-Apuleius; and the De medicamentis ex animalibus (also known as the De virtutibus bestiarum in arte medicinae) of Sextus Placitus, a treatise on the medicinal use of animals. The Placitus runs from folio 34v to 41r, then continues at folio 83r. Illustrated with 167 uncolored pen drawings, mostly of plants, but also of some animals familiar from the bestiary. The animals all seem to have been drawn by the same person, who clearly did not know what some of them looked like; the hare, fox, lion, wolf and bear all look very similar. A second hand has written the Latin name of the animal next to most beast images; a third hand has written the animal name (sometimes incorrect) in French at the bottom of the page.

In 2001 the manuscript was housed at the Koninklijke Bibliotheek (National Library of the Netherlands) while the museum was being renovated. At that time the manuscript was digitized; the facsimile is hosted by the Koninklijke Bibliotheek.

Additional Descriptions

Additional description

Editions and Facsimiles

Digital facsimiles

Museum Meermanno