Ambr. A 181 sup., f. 15r

Ambr. A 181 sup., f. 15r

F. 15r, which contains verses 532-614 of the second canto of the Iliad, exhibits the characteristic mise en page of the entire manuscript: the Homeric text arranged in two columns framed by the scholia. Consistent with the orderly graphic layout that characterizes the entire artifact, the scribe pre-calculated the portion of text to be inserted into the margins to avoid overflow onto the following folio. The handwriting displays a fluid ductus, yet with a clear intention of clarity and legibility. Certain letters create a moderate contrast in size, particularly omicron, phi, upsilon, and omega. The scholia’s script presents deliberately distinct graphic features compared to that of the Iliad: besides a reduction in size, abbreviations, tachygraphic signs, and inclusions can be observed, which are almost entirely absent in the Homeric text.

Dimensions: writing surface: 270 x 210 mm; writing surface of the poetic text: 220 x 160 mm; intercolumnar space: 20 mm; blank margins: upper 10 mm, lower 30 mm, outer 8 mm, inner ranging from 13 mm to 25 mm.