A List in Three Dimensions

Wallraff, Martin (2023): A List in Three Dimensions. The Case of Eusebius’s Canon Tables of the Gospels. In: Bernheimer, Teresa und Vollandt, Ronny (eds.) : Synopses and Lists : Textual Practices in the Pre-Modern World. Semitic Languages and Cultures, Vol. 22. Cambridge: Open Book Publishers. pp. 191-214

Abstract

Wallraff examines the canon tables of the gospels, composed by Eusebius of Caesarea in the first half of the fourth century CE, as a new form of synopsis: a list in three dimensions which uses both the extension (length and breadth) of a page in a codex, and the hypertextuality within the codex (intratextual references back and forth). In the antique culture of the book, this system raises the list to a new level of complexity. Given the extraordinary success of the device (with many hundreds of extant copies in numerous languages), the impact on viewing habits and textual practices was enormous.

• Item Type: Book Section
• Faculties: Protestant Theology > Institute of Church History
• Subjects: 200 Religion > 230 Christianity and Christian theology; 200 Religion > 270 History of Christianity; 800 Literature > 880 Classical and modern Greek literatures; 900 History and geography > 930 History of ancient world (to ca. 499)
• ISBN: 978-1-80511-118-4 ; 978-1-80064-916-3 ; 978-1-80511-148-1
• Place of Publication: Cambridge
• Language: English