In the 5th century AD, Martianus Capella composed an encyclopaedia about the seven liberal arts in form of an allegory. The mythical marriage of Philology and Mercury forms the narrative frame. The first two books recount events leading up to the wedding, while each of the following seven books is devoted to one of the liberal arts. In the guise of a bridesmaid, each art gives a detailed account of her subject.
The manuscript shown is one of the most important textual witnesses and contains explanatory diagrams in book VI, which is devoted to geometry (and geography).
As the manuscript contains some passages which were added in Reims in the 10th century, it is likely that the codex was passed on from Gerbert of Reims, later pope Silvester II, to his disciple emperor Otto III and then to Henry II.
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