Galen and the Parchment Codex: A Note on the Text of De indolentia 33
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Abstract
The publication in 2007 of a complete text of Galen’s De indolentia has stimulated a renewed interest in Galen as a source for Roman book culture, especially the early history of the codex. One phrase at De indolentia 33 is particularly important in these discussions, διφθέρας πυκτάς (“fist-sized parchments”). In 2010, the Budé edition of De indolentia emended this phrase to read διφθέρας πυκτάς (“folded parchments”). This note argues that the emendation is unnecessary because the Greek phrase πυκταὶ διφθέραι is a sensible calque for the Latin pugillares membranei, which Martial used to describe parchment codices decades before Galen. Galen and the Parchment Codex: A Note on the Text of De indolentia 33