Konstantinos Porphyrogennetos: Hypothesis

This work, attributed by researchers to Emperor Constantine (VII) Porphyrogennetos (905‒959), is usually called by its Latin name, De ceremoniis. The text describes the rites of the Byzantine ecclesiastical festivities, the celebration of secular holidays, and the administrative work in the imperial court from the emperor’s viewpoint.
Great part of these important historical texts are preserved only in this codex, therefore any Italian principal library would have been proud to have it as a most valuable treasure. We do not know how the volume arrived at the Corvina Library, but it is perhaps an acquisition from Italy. The manuscript was held in high esteem in Buda, and it is one of the two preserved Greek language Corvinas that received a typical Greek-style (alla greca) Corvina binding. (Ferenc Földesi. The entry written for the guide to the exhibition was made on the basis of András Németh’s description below: The CORVINA LIBRARY and the Buda Workshop. Exhibition Catalog. (Publication in progress.) Budapest: NSZL, 2019, Cat. C3)

Source: The Corvina Library and the Buda Worskhop: [National Széchényi Library, November 6, 2018 –February 9, 2019] A Guide to the Exhibition; introduction and summary tables: Edina Zsupán; object descriptions: Edina Zsupán, Ferenc Földesi; English translation: Ágnes Latorre, Budapest: NSZL, 2018, p. 56

DATA SHEET

Shelfmark: Rep. I 17
Country: Germany
City: Leipzig
Keeper location: Universitätsbibliothek, Leipzig