The Texts of Josephus’ Antiquities

This article aims to establish the creation dates of the textual sources used for the Josephus’ Antiquities texts. Josephus’ Antiquities was alleged written in the late 1st century CE. All the surviving MSS were allegedly created during and after the 8th century CE. This is a window of about 700 years between when it was supposedly written and when the earliest physical evidence that we have of it was written.

It was first printed in 1470 in Latin by Johann Schüssler in Augsburg. The first Greek print was in 1544.

Information on Jesus in Josephus.

Manuscripts

Josephus’ Antiquities of the Jews was written in 20 books. The main MSS used for editions are organized as follows:

Books 1-10

S, P. 11th c.

M. 13th c.

R, L. 14th c.

O. 15th c.

Books 11-20

P. 9th c., 10th c., *or 14th c.

A. 11th c.

L. 11th or 12th cc.

F, V, W. 14th c.

M. 15th c.

MS Contents

A. Ant. 11-20, Vita (with lacunae).

F. Ant. 1-15.

L. Ant. 11-15.

M. Ant. 11-20, Vita.

P. Ant. 11-17. Vita.

V. Ant. 3-15 (originally 1-15; there are lacunae in 13-15)

W. Ant. 11-20, War, and an epitome of Ant. 1-10

Books 1-10 MS Names & Century of Creation

P. Codex Parisinus Graecus Gr. 1419. Paris. C11th

S. Codex Vindobonensis II. A 19, once Graecus 2. C11th

F. Codex Laurentianus plut. 69, cod. 20. Florence. C14th

L. Codex Laurentianus, plut. lxix. 20. Florence. C14th

R. Codex Regius Parisinus. Paris. C14th

M. Codex Marcianus (Venetus) Gr. 381. Venice, Marcianus. C15th

O. Codex Oxoniensis (Bodleianus), miscell. graec. 186. Oxford, Bodleian. C15th

Books 11-20 MS Names & Century of Creation

P. Codex Vaticanus Palatinus, nr. 14. Rome. C9th, C10th, or C14th

A. Codex bibl. Ambrosianae F 128. Milan. C11th

L. Codex Leidensis F 13. Leiden. C11th or C12th

F. Codex Laurentianus plut. 69, cod. 20. Florence. C14th

V. Codex Vaticanus Graecus 147. Rome. C14th

W. Codex Vaticanus Graecus 984. Rome. C14th

M. Codex Medicaeus bibl. Laurentianae plut. 69, cod. 10. Florence. C15th

L&M MSS

This is a chronological list of the MSS listed by Levenson & Martin (2016).^{[6, pp.336-339]}

The C12th MS Bo reportedly contains books 21 and 22 of Antiquities. Is this a typo?^{[6, p.336]}

This list includes the entries on page 336, 337.

The C12th MS Lat. 115427 does not contain the TF.

8th Century

Siglum: Lc
Location, Library: Rome, Bibl. Vaticana
Manuscript: Pal. lat. 814*
Blatt No., Family: 46, λ
Date: End of C8th
Language: Latin
Contents: Ant. 1-12

I think these following links are the Vatican Library’s pages on this MS:
(1) – http://www.mss.vatlib.it/guii/console?service=present&term=@5Pal.lat.814_ms&item=1&add=0&search=1&filter=&relation=3&operator=&attribute=3040
(2) – http://www.mss.vatlib.it/guii/console?service=shortDetail&id=3161

I think the Vatican Library says that this MS was written between 975 and 1025, not the end of the 700’s. If this is correct, then Pal. lat. 814* is not an 8th century MS, but a 10th-11th century MS.

9th Century

Siglum: a
Location, Library: Milan, Bibl. Ambrosiana
Manuscript: A 220
Blatt No., Family: 47, λ
Date: 800-850
Contents: Ant. 17-20

Siglum: S
Location, Library: Copenhagen, Det Kongelige Bibliotek
Manuscript: GKS 157 folio
Blatt No., Family: 41, λ
Date: 800-850
Contents: Ant. 1-12, 17-20

Siglum: F
Location, Library: Bern, Burgerbibliothek
Manuscript: 118
Blatt No., Family: 43, λ
Date: Early C9th
Contents: Ant. 1-12

Siglum: Non
Location, Library: Cologny: Foundation Martin Bodmer
Manuscript: Bodmer 98/99*
Blatt No., Family: 48, λ
Date: Early C9th
Contents: 98: Ant. 1-6
99: War 1-7 (13-19)

Siglum: Ba
Location, Library: Bamberg, Staatsbibliothek
Manuscript: Msc. Class 78*
Blatt No., Family: 113, φ
Date: Mid-C9th
Contents: Ant. 1-20

Siglum: He
Location, Library: Wurzburg, Universitatsbibliothek
Manuscript: M.p.th.f.5*
Blatt No., Family: 45, λ
Date: Mid-C9th
Contents: Ant. 7-12.399

Siglum: Mi
Location, Library: Bern, Burgerbibliothek
Manuscript: Lat. 50
Blatt No., Family: 50, λ
Date: Mid-C9th
Contents: Ant. 1-12, War 1-7 [13-18, 18]

Siglum: W
Location, Library: Wolfenbuttel, Herzog August Bibliothek
Manuscript: Codex Guelf. 22/23 Weissenburg*
Blatt No., Family: 34, ι
Date: 850-899
Contents: 22: Ant. 1-12
23: War

10th Century

Siglum: C
Location, Library: Montecassino, Bibl. monumentale di Montecassino
Manuscript: 124
Blatt No., Family: 10, β
Date: C10th
Contents: Ant. 1-20

Siglum: Vo
Location, Library: Leiden, Universiteit Leiden
Manuscript: VLF 17
Blatt No., Family: 49, λ
Date: C10th
Contents: Ant. 1-12, 17-20, Heg.

11th Century

Siglum: Ga
Location, Library: Florence, Bibl. Laurenziana
Manuscript: Plut.89inf.11*
Blatt No., Family: 27, η
Date: C11th
Contents: Ant. 17-20

Siglum: f
Location, Library: Paris, Bibl. nationale
Manuscript: Lat. 5763*
Blatt No., Family: 44, λ
Date: End of C11th
Contents: Ant. 17-20

Siglum: Lau
Location, Library: Florence, Bibl. Laurenziana
Manuscript: Plut. 66.5/6*
Blatt No., Family: 149, χ
Date: End of C11th
Contents: 66.5: Ant. 1-18.3
66.6: Ant. 18-20, War

Siglum: L
Location, Library: Florence, Bibl. Laurenziana
Manuscript: Plut. 66.2*
Blatt No., Family: 3, α
Date: C11th
Contents: Ant. 1-20, Apion, War 1.1-27.6

Siglum: La
Location, Library: Florence, Bibl. Laurenziana
Manuscript: Plut. 66.1*
Blatt No., Family: 11, β
Date: C11th
Contents: Ant. 1-16, Heg.

Siglum: St
Location, Library: Brussels, Bibl. royale
Manuscript: II 1179
Blatt No., Family: 144, χ
Date: C11th
Contents: Ant. 1-20, War

Siglum: V
Location, Library: Rome, Bibl. Vaticana
Manuscript: Vat. Lat. 1998
Blatt No., Family: 14, γ
Date: C11th
Contents: Ant. 1-20, Heg.

11th/12th Century

Siglum: Cr
Location, Library: Florence, Bibl. Laurenziana
Manuscript: Plut.19sin.01*
Blatt No., Family: 17, ε
Date: C11/12th
Contents: Ant. 1-20 (missing 11.148-347), Apion

Siglum: El
Location, Library: Valenciennes, Bibl. municipale
Manuscript: 546
Blatt No., Family: 115, φ
Date: C11/12th
Contents: Ant. 1-20, War

Siglum: Pl
Location, Library: Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Manuscript: Clm 11302*
Blatt No., Family: 81, π
Date: C11/12th
Contents: Ant. 1-12, War 1-7 [13-19], Ant. 18 [not numbered]

12th Century

Siglum: Alb
Location, Library: London, British Library
Manuscript: Royal 13 D vi/vii
Blatt No., Family: 163, ω
Date: 1100-1150
Contents: vi: Ant. 1-14
vii: Ant. 15-20, War

Siglum: Werd
Location, Library: Berlin, Staatsbibliothek
Manuscript: Lat. Fol. 226
Blatt No., Family: 146, χ
Date: 1100-1159
Contents: Ant. 1-20, War

Siglum: Ca
Location, Library: Cambridge, Univ. Library
Manuscript: Cambridge Dd 1.4
Blatt No., Family: 157, ω
Date: 1110-1120
Contents: Ant. 1.68-14

Siglum: Bo
Location, Library: Oxford, Bodleian Library
Manuscript: Canon. patr. lat. 148
Blatt No., Family: 4, α
Date: 1145
Contents: Ant. 11-22, Apion, War

Siglum: s
Location, Library: Paris, Bibl. nationale
Manuscript: Lat. 12511
Blatt No., Family: 59, v
Date: 1150-1199
Contents: Ant. 1-12, War, Ant. 18-20

Siglum: Prs
Location, Library: Paris, Bibl. nationale
Manuscript: Lat. 8959*
Blatt No., Family: 99, σ
Date: c.1160
Contents: Ant. 1-17, War 1-7 [18-24], Ant. 18-20, Ant. 13-17 and Ant. 19-20 “from a textual tradition different from other books”

Siglum: Z
Location, Library: Stuttgart, Wurttembergische Landesbibliothek
Manuscript: Cod. hist. fol. 418
Blatt No., Family: 37, ι
Date: 1160-1170
Contents: Ant. 1-12

Siglum: Cor
Location, Library: Paris, Bibl. nationale
Manuscript: Lat. 16730*
Blatt No., Family: 123, φ
Date: 1170-1180
Contents: Ant. 1-20, War

Siglum: Ne
Location, Library: Paris, Bibl. nationale
Manuscript: Lat. 5045*
Blatt No., Family: 29, ζ
Date: Early C12th
Contents: Vol. 1: Ant. 1-12
Vol. 2: Ant. 13-20, War 1 (part), War 4-7 (Lat. 5-7, part) [21-24]

Siglum: U
Location, Library: Paris, Bibl. nationale
Manuscript: NAL 2453
Blatt No., Family: 154, ω
Date: Early C12th
Contents: Ant. 1-20, War

Siglum: li
Location, Library: Lincoln, Cathedral Library
Manuscript: Lincoln 145 (C.1.6)
Blatt No., Family: 161, ω
Date: Mid-C12th
Contents: Ant. 1-20 (many lacunae), War

Siglum: Mir
Location, Library: Winchester, Winchester College
Manuscript: ms. 6
Blatt No., Family: 165, v
Date: Mid-C12th
Contents: Ant. 1-20

Siglum: Mt
Location, Library: Oxford, Merton College
Manuscript: Merton 317
Blatt No., Family: 101, σ
Date: Mid-C12th
Contents: Ant. 1-12, War 1-2, Ant. 18-20, War 3-7, Ant. 14-17

Siglum: D
Location, Library: Cologne: Diozesan- und Domblibliothek
Manuscript: 162/163*
Blatt No., Family: 107, σ
Date: 1150-1175
Contents: 162: Ant. 1-4, 8-13
163: Ant. 14-20, War

Siglum: Nv
Location, Library: London, British Library
Manuscript: Harley 3883
Blatt No., Family: 72, ξ
Date: Late C12th
Contents: 71: Ant. 1-12; War pref.; Ant. 13
72: Ant. 14-20, War

Siglum: N/A
Location, Library: Cologne, Historisches Archiv der Stadt Koln
Manuscript: Best 7010 (Wallraf 276)*
Blatt No., Family: N/A
Date: End of C12th
Contents: Ant. 1-20, War

Siglum: Adm
Location, Library: Admont, Benediktinerstift
Manuscript: 71/72
Blatt No., Family: 84, ρ
Date: C12th
Contents: 71: Ant. 1-12; War pref.; Ant. 13
72: Ant. 14-20, War

Siglum: Cl
Location, Library: Troyes, Mediatheques
Manuscript: 137*
Blatt No., Family: 100, σ
Date: C12th
Contents: Ant. 1-20

Siglum: cl
Location, Library: Troyes, Mediatheques
Manuscript: 701*
Blatt No., Family: 62, ν
Date: C12th
Contents: War 1-7 [1-9], Ant. 18-20 [20, 21, 20]

Siglum: Ar
Location, Library: London, British Library
Manuscript: Arundel 94
Blatt No., Family: 170, ω
Date: C12th
Contents: Ant. 15-20, War

Siglum: Cn
Location, Library: Klosterneuburg, Stiftsbibliothek
Manuscript: 5
Blatt No., Family: 106, σ
Date: C12th
Contents: Ant. 1-20, War

Siglum: cr
Location, Library: Heiligenkreuz, Stiftsbibliothek
Manuscript: 34
Blatt No., Family: 140, ϕ
Date: C12th
Contents: Ant. 14-20, War

Siglum: Du
Location, Library: Durham, Cathedral Library
Manuscript: B.II.1
Blatt No., Family: 160, ω
Date: C12th
Contents: Ant. 1-20, War

Siglum: E
Location, Library: Einsiedeln, Stiftsbibliothek
Manuscript: 344
Blatt No., Family: 35, ι
Date: C12th
Contents: Ant. 1-12

Siglum: Ha
Location, Library: Valenciennes, Bibl. municipale
Manuscript: 547*
Blatt No., Family: 116, φ
Date: C12th
Contents: Ant. 1-20, War

Siglum: Lamp
Location, Library: Graz, Universitatsbibliothek
Manuscript: Graz 105
Blatt No., Family: 85, ρ
Date: C12th
Contents: Ant. 1-20, War

Siglum: M
Location, Library: Florence, Bibl. Laurenziana
Manuscript: San Marco 385*
Blatt No., Family: 16, ε
Date: C12th
Contents: Ant. 1-20, Apion 1

Siglum: n
Location, Library: Paris, Bibl. nationale
Manuscript: Lat. 16731*
Blatt No., Family: 71, ξ
Date: C12th
Contents: Ant. 1-20, War

Siglum: Sec
Location, Library: Graz, Universitatsbibliothek
Manuscript: 132
Blatt No., Family: 86, ρ
Date: C12th
Contents: Ant. 1-12, War prologue, Ant. 13

Siglum: Sr
Location, Library: Paris, Bibl. nationale
Manuscript: Lat. 115427
Blatt No., Family: 20, γ
Date: C12th
Contents: Ant. 1-20 (missing 18.63-64)

Siglum: Vct
Location, Library: Paris, Bibl. nationale
Manuscript: Lat. 14361
Blatt No., Family: 60, ν
Date: C12th
Contents: Ant. 1-12, War 1-7 [13-19], Ant. 18-30 [20, 21, 20]

Siglum: Vi
Location, Library: Paris, Bibl. nationale
Manuscript: Lat. 5048
Blatt No., Family: 5, α
Date: C12th
Contents: Ant. 1-20

Siglum: Vl
Location, Library: New York, Columbia Library
Manuscript: Plimpton 43
Blatt No., Family: 80, π
Date: C12th
Contents: Ant. 1-12

Siglum: z
Location, Library: Zwettl, Stiftsbibliothek
Manuscript: 25
Blatt No., Family: 94, ρ
Date: C12th
Contents: Ant. 1-20, War

12th/13th Century

Siglum: Co
Location, Library: Paris, Bibl. nationale
Manuscript: Lat. 5046
Blatt No., Family: 65, v
Date: C12/13th
Contents: Ant. 1-12, War, Ant. 18-20

Siglum: p
Location, Library: Paris, Bibl. nationale
Manuscript: Lat. 5047*
Blatt No., Family: 103, σ
Date: C12/13th
Contents: Ant. 1-20, War

Siglum: Pa
Location, Library: Paris, Bibl. nationale
Manuscript: Lat. 5049
Blatt No., Family: 128, φ
Date: C12/13th
Contents: Ant. 1-20, War, Apion

13th Century

Siglum: Cp
Location, Library: Paris, Bibl. nationale
Manuscript: Lat. 16941
Blatt No., Family: 73, ξ
Date: 1200-1230
Contents: Ant. 1-20, War

Siglum: Sa
Location, Library: Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Manuscript: Clm 15841
Blatt No., Family: 89, ρ
Date: c.1200
Contents: Ant. 1-20, War, Heg.

Siglum: Pd
Location, Library: Stockholm, Kungliga Biblioteket
Manuscript: A 148 (“Codex Gigas”)*
Blatt No., Family: 93, ρ
Date: 1204-1230
Contents: Ant. 1-20, War

Siglum: b
Location, Library: Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Manuscript: Clm 4510*
Blatt No., Family: 87, ρ
Date: Early C13th
Contents: Ant. 1-20

Siglum: Sg
Location, Library: Paris, Bibl. nationale
Manuscript: Lat. 11735
Blatt No., Family: 67, v
Date: Early C13th
Contents: Ant. 1-12, War 1-7 [13-19], Ant. 18-20

Siglum: ld
Location, Library: London, British Library
Manuscript: Royal 13 E viii
Blatt No., Family: 166, ω
Date: Early C13th
Contents: Ant. 1-20, War

Siglum: Sch
Location, Library: Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Manuscript: Clm 17404*
Blatt No., Family: 88, ρ
Date: Mid-C13th
Contents: Ant. 1-20, War, Heg.

Siglum: d
Location, Library: New York, Pierpont Morgan Library
Manuscript: M 533/M 534
Blatt No., Family: 68, v
Date: Late C13th
Contents: 533: Ant. 1-15
534: Ant. 16-20, War

Siglum: al
Location, Library: London, British Library
Manuscript: Add. 22859/22860
Blatt No., Family: 74, ξ
Date: C13th
Contents: 22859: Ant. 1-11
22860: Ant. 12-20

Siglum: Cb
Location, Library: London, British Library
Manuscript: Add. 15280
Blatt No., Family: 121, φ
Date: C13th
Contents: Ant. 1-20; War

Siglum: Ld
Location, Library: London, British Library
Manuscript: Add. 22861
Blatt No., Family: 66, v
Date: C13th
Contents: War 1-7 [1-8], Ant. 18-20 [9-11]

13th/14th Century

Siglum: pa
Location, Library: Paris, Bibl. nationale
Manuscript: Lat. 5050*
Blatt No., Family: 30, ζ
Date: C13th/14th
Contents: Ant. 1-20, War 1 (part), War 4-7 (Lat. 5-7; part) [21-24]

14th Century

Siglum: Cov
Location, Library: London, British Library
Manuscript: Harley 5116
Blatt No., Family: 168, ω
Date: Early C14th
Contents: Ant. 1-20, War

Siglum: Aus
Location, Library: Vich, Archivo Capitular
Manuscript: 162
Blatt No., Family: 132, φ
Date: C14th
Contents: Ant. 1-20

Siglum: Crem
Location, Library: Kremsmunster, Stiftsbibliothek
Manuscript: 350
Blatt No., Family: 90, ρ
Date: C14th
Contents: Ant. 14-20, War

Siglum: Pet
Location, Library: Paris, Bibl. nationale
Manuscript: Lat. 5054*
Blatt No., Family: 7, α
Date: C14th
Contents: Ant. 1-11, Apion

Siglum: Vn
Location, Library: Vienna, Osterreichischen Nationalbibliothek
Manuscript: Palatinus Lat. 333
Blatt No., Family: 91, ρ
Date: C14th
Contents: Ant. 1-20, War

Siglum: N/A
Location, Library: Paris, Bibl. nationale
Manuscript: Lat. 5059*
Blatt No., Family: N/A
Date: C14th
Contents: War, Ant. 18-20

15th Century

Siglum: par
Location, Library: Paris, Bibl. nationale
Manuscript: Lat. 5051*
Blatt No., Family: 22, γ
Date: 1400-1450
Contents: Ant. 1-20

Siglum: hr
Location, Library: London, British Library
Manuscript: Harley 3691
Blatt No., Family: 40, α
Date: 1457
Contents: Ant. 1-16, War 1.522-2.373, 5.365-end of 7 [17-22, abridged], Heg.

Siglum: pat
Location, Library: Paris, Bibl. nationale
Manuscript: Lat. 8835
Blatt No., Family: 25, γ
Date: 1461
Contents: Ant. 1-20

Siglum: Fl
Location, Library: London, British Library
Manuscript: Harley 3699
Blatt No., Family: 31, ζ
Date: 1478
Contents: Ant. 1-20, Apion

Siglum: h
Location, Library: London, British Library
Manuscript: Harley 4961/4962/4963
Blatt No., Family: 31, σ
Date: C15th
Contents: 4961: Ant. 8-13
4962: Ant. 14-20, Apion
4963: War 1-7 (21-27)

Siglum: l
Location, Library: Florence, Bibl. Laurenziana
Manuscript: Plut. 66.3*
Blatt No., Family: 18, ε
Date: C15th
Contents: Ant. 1-20, Apion

Siglum: t
Location, Library: Munich, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Manuscript: Clm 18004*
Blatt No., Family: 92, ρ
Date: C15th
Contents: Ant. 10-20

Siglum: N/A
Location, Library: Florence, Bibl. Laurenziana
Manuscript: Plut. 18sin.10*
Blatt No., Family: N/A
Date: C15th
Contents: Ant. 1-20, Apion

References:

[1] – Roger Pearse. “Josephus: the Main Manuscripts of “Antiquities”” (24 May 2002). http://www.tertullian.org/rpearse/manuscripts/josephus_antiquities.htm. Accessed 6 Apr. 2019.

[2] – OLSON, K. A. “Eusebius and the ‘Testimonium Flavianum.’” The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, vol. 61, no. 2, 1999, pp. 305–322. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/43723559. Accessed 6 Apr. 2019.

[3] – David B. Levenson and Thomas R. Martin. “The Place of the Early Printed Editions of Josephus’s Antiquities and War (1470–1534) in the Latin Textual Tradition” in Sibyls, Scriptures, and Scrolls: John Collins at Seventy. (2016). doi:10.1163/9789004324749. https://brill.com/view/book/edcoll/9789004324749/B9789004324749_043.xml. Accessed 6 Apr. 2019.

[4] – https://www.preteristarchive.com/Books/1470_augsburg_schussler.html. Accessed 6 Apr. 2019.

[5] – http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/gopher/other/courses/rels/735/josephusMSS.html. Accessed 6 Apr. 2019.

[6] – Chapman, Honora Howell, and Zuleika Rodgers. A Companion to Josephus (Blackwell Companions to the Ancient World). 1st ed., Wiley-Blackwell, 2016. https://books.google.com/books?id=YmXKCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA314&lpg=PA314&dq=%22F+128+sup.+(gr.+370)%22&source=bl&ots=CTzYpbEeW3&sig=ACfU3U0RaTlMaz_2EIhWsvN56TF2MLFCbQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj6pcTd8IvyAhXNaM0KHUUxAoIQ6AF6BAgCEAM#v=onepage&q=%22F%20128%20sup.%20(gr.%20370)%22&f=false. Accessed 30 Jul. 2021.

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