Recently, historians presented a strange document of the thirteenth century that represents the stories of King Arturo and Merlin, and his survival is considered a miracle.
The discovery was announced by the University of Cambridge on March 25.
The manuscript is part of the Suite Vulgate Du Merlin, a French representation of the history of King Arthur.
Arthur has been represented as a legendary British king for several centuries, thought that his existence has been doubted by most historians.
In 2019, the fragile manuscript was discovered in an unlikely place in a Cambridge library, hidden as the binding for an old book.
“The manuscript had survived the centuries after being recycled and reused in the sixteenth century as the cover of a registration of Huntingfield Manor in Suffolk, owned by the Vanneck family of Hveningham,” said the University’s statement.
“Mother, the remarkable discovery was bent, torn and even sewn in the bookbinding of the book, which makes it almost impossible for Experts in Cambridge to access it, read or confirm its origins,” said the university in a press release.
Thanks to modern technology, including the multiport image, computerized tomography and 3D modeling experts could scan and create a virtual image of the manuscript that caused damage.
“Use of mirrors, prisms, magnets and other tools, Chil’s team [Cultural Heritage Imaging Laboratory] Carefflly photographed each section of the fragment, “said the university.
“The hundreds of resulting images were reassembled by thoroughly, as well as a puzzle, to create a coherent image of the text.”
“When manipulating digital images, the team could simulate what the document could be if it opens physically.”
Each copy of the Vulgate Suite du Merlin was unique, since they were written individually by medieval scribes, and it is known that there are less than 40 copies.
Cambridge’s copy was written between 1275 and 1315.
“The text is written in ancient French, the language of the court and the aristocracy in medieval England after the Norman conquest,” said the press release.
“This particular fragment belongs to the genre of Arthurian Romans [that] They were destined for a noble audience, including women. “
The University added that the manuscript “tells two key episodes of the end of the vulgate du Merlin suite.”
“The first part recounts the victory of the Christians against the Saxons in the battle of Cambénic,” says the statement. “He tells Gauvain’s fight (with his Excalibur sword, his Gringalet horse and his supernatural powers), his brothers and his father Rey Loth, against the Saxons Dodalis, Moydas, Oriany and Brandalus.”
“The second passage presents a more polite scene, located at the party of the assumption of the Virgin Mary, with Merlin appearing in the arthur court disguised as Arpista, a moment that highlights its magical skills and its importance.” “
The University of Cambridge has just included a passage translated from the book, which painted a vivid scene of life in medieval England.
“While they rejoiced at the party, and Kay the Senescal brought the first dish to King Arturo and Queen Guinvere, there was the most handsome man ever seen in Christian lands,” said the passage. “He wore a silk tunic by a tissue silk harness with gold and precious stones that shined with so much brightness that illuminated the entire room.”
The fragile document even contains small errors, such as calling King Saxon Dodalis “Dorilas”, but those errors will only help specialists track the manuscript lineage.
“As each manuscript of the period was copied by hand, it means that each one is distinctive and reflects the variations introduced by the medieval scribes,” said the British university.
“The way in which the manuscript was executed with bones, with initials decorated in red and blue, fresh tracks on its origins and helped indicate that it occurred between the end of the 13 and early fourteenth century.”