Database of Byzantine Book Epigrams

• Image-related epigram
• Patron-related epigram

• Dedication
• Miniature
• Prayer
• Reference to content of the book

• He who rules and is shepherd of the earth and of the universe, who found David worthy of command, has himself placed the crown upon your head, oh mighty ruler of the whole world. Recently discovering another exact David, he therefore crowns you with your wife, and thus gives to the sun of the world another moon, from which has appeared a branch of the purple, which announces another enrichment of the world. I, a humble wretch among the monks, winged by slavish zeal and hardihood, offer him David's writings, the delight of the begetter, as a second suckling at the breast of wisdom - this to the one who appears to me as the second light of the lightgiver. May the almighty right hand of the ruler shelter him to govern for the sake of his subjects. May he find the hand from heaven that bestows the crown a barbarian-slayer against enemies.

  Language

  English

  Source(s)

  J. Anderson, P. Canart, C. Walter, 1989, The Barberini Psalter. Codex Vaticanus Barberinianus Graecus 372. Introduction and Commentary, Zürich: 55

• The Ruler and Shepherd of the world and the cosmos,
  Who has found David worthy to carry the sceptre,
  has Himself placed the crown on your head,
  oh mighty king of the whole inhabited earth.
  Since He has properly and simply found another David.
  He now crowns you together with your wife,
  giving another moon to the sun of the world,
  from whom the shining offshoot of the purple
  gives recognition to another enrichment of the world.
  To him, I, humble and modest among hermits,
  winged by slavish desire, dare to offer
  David’s words, the delight of Him Who Is,
  an intelligible breast, a second lactation,
  to him who is for me the second light of the morning star
  whom the mighty right hand of the Ruler
  may protect and strengthen him for the sake of the subjects
  and may he find that the hand from above which gives the crown
  may be against enemies a barbarian slaying hand.

  Language

  English

  Source(s)

  I. Spatharakis, 1976, The Portrait in Byzantine Illuminated Manuscripts, Leiden: 35

• Der Herrscher und Hirt der Erde und des Alls,
  der David der Herrschaft für würdig befunden hatte,
  setzte selbst die Krone auf dein Haupt,
  mächtiger Herrscher der ganzen bewohnten Welt,
  nachdem er soeben geradezu einen zweiten David gefunden hatte.
  Er krönt dich also mit deiner Frau
  und gibt damit der Sonne der Welt einen zweiten Mond.
  Diesen ist der Zweig der Porphyra entsprossen,
  und er gibt einen anderen Weltreichtum zu erkennen.
  Ihm bringe ich, demütiger, armseliger unter den Mönchen,
  die Ergötzung des Vaters dar, die Worte Davids,
  mit Wagemut, beflügelt von meinem untergebenen Verlangen,
  eine spirituelle Nahrung, ein zweites Stillen,
  jenem, der mir das zweite Licht des Morgensterns zeigte
  (und) den die allmächtige Rechte des Herrn
  beschützen und stärken möge um der Untertanen willen.
  Und er möge die Hand von oben, die Geberin der Krone,
  als barbarentötende Hand gegen die Feinde erfahren.

  Language

  German

  Source(s)

  A. Rhoby, 2018, Ausgewählte Byzantinische Epigramme in Illuminierten Handschriften, Wien: 463-464

The credits system has been implemented in 2019. Credits from before the new system was in use might be incomplete.

• BEiÜ IV, VAT81
• Vassis ICB 2005, 505: "Epigr. dedicatorium in psalterium (dictum Barberini)"