Scroll

Scroll ( also scroll, volume or Rotulus ) is composed of a rolled papyrus or parchment path typical form of a book of antiquity. Only occasionally there were paper - Rotuli ( for example, a Papierrotulus about the process costs of the pen Food 1353-1355 ). The ancient Rotulus as the Torah rolled sideways, while the medieval Rotuli were usually rolled from top to bottom.

Origin and Distribution

Ancient scrolls are obtained from many cultures, the oldest dating from Egypt. In ancient Egypt, the scroll of papyrus since the 4th millennium BC is known.

From there it was taken over in Greece. According to Herodotus, the papyrus has displaced the parchment as a writing. In Greece, the papyrus roll was since 6 / 5 Century BC spread in Rome not before 3 / 2 Century BC The Rotuli were largely replaced by the code in the 4th and 5th centuries, a bound block of parchment or papyrus sheets, which essentially corresponds to the present book. The scroll was still in the 6th century as a symbol of classical education ( paideia ). Part of the roll form for literary texts received as late as the 6th century AD, especially in Ostrom. When Egypt fell to the Arabs in the 7th century, papyrus was rare even in the Byzantine Empire. Written on rolls of papyrus documents are still handed down in the 11th century.

During the European Middle Ages literary, liturgical and scientific books were produced almost exclusively as the Code, were Rotuli to the 14th century in the administration of its use (eg invoices and owning directories, see also documents of the Middle Ages and the early modern period ). In the German Middle Ages in particular manorial directories were performed as Rotuli. Referred to by the German word toboggan and Rödel, with one mainly designated Urbare. The role citizens ( and citizens protocol, citizens recording book libri civium, burbok or citizen book ) recorded all individuals with urban conferred civil rights. The Alemannic language used for today synonymous expression toboggan. The use of Rotuli for list- like directories also come from modern terms such as parent roll, craft and role model role.

In Southern Italy are Rotuli ( Exultet role ) as a liturgical manuscripts for the Exsultet in use. This richly illustrated manuscripts align images and text vice versa, since the Rotulus was unrolled in sorting over the edge of the desk, so that he was hanging outside. On the outside, then the images to the public were properly aligned while the lecturer saw her on the head. In England, the Rotulus was particularly long for the accounts of the sheriffs to headquarters in use (pipe rolls).

Until the early modern period there was, especially in Benedictine monasteries, the so-called Totenrotel, for the purpose of remembrance in prayer taught other convents of the death of his own monks with parchment glued together pieces.

Today, very few texts are still running as a scroll. In Jewish worship, the tradition of the scroll hebrew מגילה ( Megillah ) has to date received in the Torah, for the Megillot and other biblical books. Transcripts in the form of conduct is also in Judaism, they are not meant for worship, but as templates for copying.

Materials

The scroll (lat. volume or rotulus ) consisted mostly of papyrus and was to n in the 4th century AD, the predominant form of a book of antiquity. Then sat down in book form of the Code and as a writing parchment by. Considerably less frequently were scrolls of leather or parchment. Leather roles have included among the Egyptians, Assyrians, Persians and Jews in use. Of great importance are the 1947 found in Qumran leather scrolls with Jewish religious texts. In the library of Pergamon in Attalids are attested in literature in the 2nd century BC parchment scrolls. Leather and parchment are a total of more durable than papyrus, which is sensitive mainly to the influence of moisture.

Production and labeling

A papyrus scroll is created by sticking together of individual leaves (singular kollema; plural kollemata ). On average, there is a roll of about 20 sheets and reach a width of the leaves of about 25-30 inches, a length of about 6-10 meters.

When gluing the sheets of papyrus was taken to a uniform fiber direction. On the inside, the printed side of the Pulley ( recto ), the fibers of the leaves are horizontal ( the proto kollon with the exception, see below), because it can result in better parallel to the fiber direction in writing of Kalamos. On the outer side ( verso ), where the fibers run vertically, they impede the course of Kalamos.

Nevertheless, papyrus scrolls were sometimes described in the second use later on the verso. Roles on both sides described are called Opisthographon. The Opisthograph ( the outside described ) is usually less than the text on the inside of the roll and therefore provides a terminus for this ante conveniently. Since the backs were used like business or government records Opisthographen are often precisely dated. The fact that a text on the inside started and will be continued on the outside, is rare (possibly at notes or fabric collections from authors).

Was written with inks of different recipe. Prescribed bodies could be erased with a sponge and overwritten. Fully washed off and newly described papyri hardly meet but - unlike overridden parchment (see palimpsest ).

Typeface

Literary roles have been described parallel to the longitudinal edge in equally wide columns (Greek selis; Latin pagina ) of a uniform number of lines. Above and below the columns remains free a wide strip on the one hand to protect the signature block from damage and also to provide a pleasing appearance.

In typeface short lines are considered to be characteristic of high quality. In Greek papyri is written within the lines in scriptura continua, ie without spaces or hyphens between words. In later literary papyri, different characters, such as colons find to illustrate conceptual sections. Go to the text-critical work of the grammarians of the great Hellenistic libraries (eg Alexandria ) back. Such characters, the use of certain abbreviations as well as various forms of writing provides the palaeography important clues for dating the papyri. In contrast to Greek papyri have Latin papyri frequently separation points between the words.

Illustrations are rare in papyrus scrolls. Where they occur, contoured figures ( outline drawings) are frameless inserted in the signature block of the column in the rule. From here derives the terminology of the book painting the phrase roll style from.

The first sheet, the proto kollon is the only sheet whose fiber direction is perpendicular to the inner side. It is released and serves the roll of papyrus as a protective cover. That also remains free a wide field at the end of the roll, is also attributed to aesthetic intent and conservation consideration.

The title of the text is usually noted at the end of the roll ( explicit). In addition, it is mounted on the outer side of the closed part in the vertical direction. As often multiple roles are required for a single work ( the outline of extensive ancient texts in books is attributed to that fact ), must be noted in these cases, the author's name and the title of the work at the beginning and end of each roll.

Storage and Handling

Rolls were placed in baskets, jars or pots or lying stacked in wooden racks, shelves or cabinets. In particular, for transport purposes, they could be kept in box or coffer -shaped containers ( bookcases ). Such containers (Greek kibotos, kibotion, crate, TEUCHOS; Latin capsa, scrinium ) are known from numerous pictorial representations. In the Roman world a cylindrical shape was typical. In sculpture it appears as an attribute of scholarship and erudition as a statue pillar next to the foot of the sitter. In order to access targeted on custody roles, you knew them with small strips of parchment (Greek silliboi, lat tituli ) on which the author's name and book title were noted; These were mounted on the upper edge of the roller that they could be read with tightly packed storage of the rolls. Compared to both sides written codices scrolls require significantly more space for storage, can not be stacked and advised by an open fire faster on fire.

To read a scroll both hands are needed. With his right hand to be read text is unrolled, while with the left hand of the already read text is rolled up, unless you can hang this not simply loose. For Hebrew scrolls, as used in the synagogue service, the reverse reading direction applies. A Hebrew Bible roll must not be touched with the hands, but only by the handles on religious grounds. To read a small often artfully gestalter pointer is used ( Jad = hand). After reading the roll must be rolled back again. From this way of handling the Latin name derives (by volume "role" of volvere " to roll ", " roll "). The rolling Help a wooden stick (Greek omphalos, umbilicus Latin = navel) was glued to the right edge of the last kollema put into the role or.