"Byzantine medieval hypertexts"

 

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MEDIEVAL HYPERTEXTS

THEODORE PSALTER

GALLERY OF ILLUSTRATIONS 1

GALLERY OF ILLUSTRATIONS 2

 

 

 

 

 

© 2003 by Tatiana Nikolova-Houston. Please do not copy small portions without citation or large parts without permission.

 

"Psalm 77:1-2, Headpiece"

Folio 100r Headpiece Psalm 77:1-2

 

LITURGICAL USE
This Psalm is used liturgically as a prokimenon verse and as alleluja verses for the 4th Friday of Lent and for January 25th.

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TRANSLATION
"Give ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings of old."

DESCRIPTION
This page-design, similar to the design at the opening of the Psalter, signifies the beginning of a new division of the Psalter. A large square headpiece, divided into nine geometrically-patterned compartments, occupies a large portion of the page. The title "A Psalm of Instruction to Asaph" occupies a circular unillustrated space within the headpiece. Palmettes decorate each of the corners, and two birds sit in the middle at the top of the headpiece, surrounding a vase.
In the right margin appears a clipeate image of Christ. The bottom marginal illustration portrays Asaph as an old man in a halo, sitting in a red tunic, pointing to an opened book. Two groups of men appear around him, and two of the men are bowing to him.
An inscription in red identifies the marginal figures, stating "Jesus Christ" for the upper marginal illustration and "Asaph and the Law" for the bottom marginal illustration.

 

The images presented here come from the electronic facsimile of the Theodore Psalter produced by Professor Charles Barber of Notre Dame University, as published by the University of Illinois Press.

GENERAL INFORMATION: Home:: ::Medieval hypertexts:: ::Theodore Psalter:: ::Gallery 1:: ::Gallery 2

ADVANCED RESEARCH: Elements of hypertextuality in the page design:: ::Hypertextual Analysis: Psalm 7:: ::Psalm 25:: ::Psalm 32:: ::Function and categories of illustrations:: Conclusion