12th-century manuscript discovered in Glasgow is one of Scotland’s oldest
SCOTLAND’S oldest surviving non-biblical manuscript has been discovered by a researcher at the University of Glasgow.
Dr Kylie Murray found the 12th century copy of the Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius, a statesman of the late Roman Empire, in the university’s special collections area.
The manuscript, written in 524AD, is believed to have been published by monks at Kelso Abbey. It was Medieval Europe’s best known intellectual text, second only to the Bible.
Although the copy had previously been catalogued, scholars believed it was most probably from Durham.
However, closer inspection revealed the handwriting and illustrations do not match those of Durham, or other English books, from this period.
Dr Murray said that the manuscript suggests a connection with the Scottish kingdom and its unique illustrations closely resemble those found in the Kelso Charter, written at Kelso Abbey in 1159.
She said: “By showing us how alert and alive Scotland was to literary and intellectual influences from Europe at such an early date, the University of Glasgow’s Boethius manuscript is a hugely exciting find not only for scholars of medieval Scotland, but for anyone interested in understanding the roots of Scotland’s literary and intellectual culture.”