Tradizione e edizione di una compilazione di testi sulla Terra Santa proveniente dal convento francescano del Monte Sion (fine del xiv secolo)

Abstract

On the basis of an analysis of the concept of compilation and compiler in the Middle Ages, the author discusses the possible attitudes of the editor of medieval texts toward compilative works. He analyses a case-study represented by two manuscripts, one from the Archivio Capitolare of Pisa and an other from the Herzog August Bibliothek of Wolfenbüttel, which transmit an essentially homogeneous collection of texts. The author identifies in these two manuscripts two witnesses of a compilation originated among the Franciscans of Mount Sion in Jerusalem. He argues in favour of a reconstructive edition of the compilation on the basis of these two witnesses transmitted to us. This is the only method useful for understanding the compilation as an unitary work, corresponding to the design of a compiler, which should therefore be distinguished from the witnesses that transmitted it.