3. Survival and Rediscovery

Abstract

Roughly three centuries lie between our youngest ancient manuscript and oldest medieval manuscript of Sophocles: Laurentianus 32.9 (abbreviated as L), from the middle of the tenth century, which also contains our earliest extensive text of the surviving plays of Aeschylus, and of Apollonius of Rhodes's Argonautica. This manuscript provides several unique readings likely to be true, and overall the best text of the dramas. However, it is not the case that all other medieval manuscripts were descended from L, and can thus be set aside by editors. Many manuscripts, or manuscript groups, are unique witnesses to parts of the tradition. A manuscript contemporary with L, Leiden B.P.G. (Λ), survives only as a palimpsest – it was reused by having another text written on top of the Sophoclean text, which can now be read only partially. Its readings are especially useful where L's are obscure or illegible. The next-oldest, Laurentianus 31.10 (K), dates from the last third of the twelfth century; it contains some unique correct readings and in general a good text, usually close to that of L(Λ).