ἈThe Library of Alexandra
Rubricated initial in a Byzantine manuscript of Tzetzes' commentary on Lycophron

χειρόγραφα

Manuscripts

The witnesses of the poem and of the Tzetzes commentary, folio by folio.

The Alexandra survives in well over a hundred Greek manuscripts, nearly all of them carrying the commentary of the Tzetzes brothers around or between the verses. The register below lists 159 witnesses of the poem or its scholia; 25 are digitised, and 20 can be shown inside the reader folio by folio.

The tradition in brief

Scheer's edition (Berlin 1881; scholia 1908) rests on A, the Marcianus gr. Z. 476 of the late eleventh century, written with the paraphrase of Niketas and carrying the old scholia; V, Vaticanus gr. 1307, is a copy of it. Older still is B, the tenth-century Coislinianus 345, which preserves the poem only as lemmata inside a lexicon, each followed by the ancient prose paraphrase. The second class is headed by C, Parisinus gr. 2723 (dated 1282), and D, Parisinus gr. 2403, both with Tzetzes' commentary; the scholia are edited chiefly from A and from the Neapolitanus II D 4. Mooney (1921) prints the same five principal witnesses. Later editors (Mascialino 1964; Hurst–Kolde 2008; Hornblower 2015) keep these sigla.

Sources: Scheer 1881, praefatio; Mooney 1921, introduction; Pinakes (IRHT), work notices 457, 1451, 12251, 13310, retrieved 2026-11-07.

Principal witnesses

—
A · Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana (BNM), gr. Z. 476 (coll. 0703) 11 ex. · ff. 031-54v
—
V · Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Vat. gr. 1307 11 ex.-12 in. · ff. 001-55v
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Coislin 345, first folio
B · Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Coislin 345 10 (2/2) · ff. 225-253v
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2723, first folio
C · Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2723 13 1282 · ff. 004v--76v
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2403, first folio
D · Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2403 13 ex. · ff. 058-99v
—
s² (scholia, Scheer) · Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III, II D 04 13 ex. · ff. 003v--53v

Digitised and shown in the reader

Where the holding library has placed its photographs online, the reader's manuscript panel shows the folio for the line being read, and the card below opens a page of every folio carrying the Alexandra or its scholia in that copy (folio ranges are interpolated between folios checked by eye, which are marked as such). Where a library's terms don't allow embedding, the card still opens a page — of links to the library's own viewer, folio by folio.

Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (BSB), Cod.graec. 241, first folio
Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (BSB), Cod.graec. 241 16 (1/2) 1520-1525 ca · 386 folios
Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana (BML), Plut. 32. 17, first folio
Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana (BML), Plut. 32. 17 13, 16 · 372 folios
Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana (BML), Plut. 32. 20, first folio
Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana (BML), Plut. 32. 20 15 · 201 folios
Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana (BML), Plut. 32. 29, first folio
Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana (BML), Plut. 32. 29 15 · 225 folios
Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana (BML), Plut. 32. 36, first folio
Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana (BML), Plut. 32. 36 15 · 2 folios
Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana (BML), Plut. 32. 52, first folio
Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana (BML), Plut. 32. 52 14 in. · 5 folios
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Coislin 345, first folio
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Coislin 345 siglum B · 10 (2/2) · 57 folios
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 1310, first folio
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 1310 15 · 107 folios
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2403, first folio
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2403 siglum D · 13 ex. · 42 folios
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2723, first folio
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2723 siglum C · 13 1282 · 147 folios
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2724, first folio
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2724 16 (2/3) · 96 folios
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2725, first folio
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2725 16 (1/3) · 153 folios
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2836, first folio
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2836 15 · 110 folios
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2837, first folio
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2837 16 · 118 folios
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2838, first folio
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2838 16 · 136 folios
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2839, first folio
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2839 16 · 29 folios
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2840, first folio
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2840 16 · 38 folios
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2890, first folio
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2890 16 · 178 folios
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Supplément grec 0020, first folio
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Supplément grec 0020 17 · 1 folios
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Supplément grec 0456, first folio
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Supplément grec 0456 17 · 51 folios
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Supplément grec 0658, first folio
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Supplément grec 0658 16-17 · 9 folios
Bodleian Library, Barocci 153, first folio
Bodleian Library, Barocci 153 15 · 284 folios
Heidelberg, Universitätsbibliothek, Cod. Pal. graec. 264, first folio
Heidelberg, Universitätsbibliothek, Cod. Pal. graec. 264 15 (1/2) · 193 folios

Register of witnesses

Sorted by century (Pinakes dating, verbatim). "Tzetzes" = scholia or commentary of Isaac/John Tzetzes present. Folio ranges are the catalogue's, not yet checked against images unless the record says so.

Cent.ShelfmarkSiglumContentsFoliosDigitisation
10-11, 16 Biblioteca Ambrosiana, N 177 sup. (Martini-Bassi 561) Tzetzes, text 001--80*
10 (2/2) Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Coislin 345 B lexicon/paraphrase (P), text 225-253v images shown
11 ex.-12 in. Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Vat. gr. 1307 V paraphrase, text 001-55v
11 ex. Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana (BNM), gr. Z. 476 (coll. 0703) A paraphrase, text 031-54v
11, 12, 13 Real Biblioteca, R. I. 18 (Revilla 018) Tzetzes, text 003-191
12 ex. Biblioteca Ambrosiana, C 222 inf. (Martini-Bassi 886) Tzetzes, text 110-176
13 ex. Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Vat. gr. 0904 Tzetzes, text 066v
13 (2/2) Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Vat. gr. 1306 Tzetzes, text 001--110*
13-14 Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Vat. gr. 1841 text 117-122
13-14 Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Vat. gr. 1910 text 001-41
13, 16 Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana (BML), Plut. 32. 17 Tzetzes, text 001--113 link to library
13 ex.-14 in. Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana (BML), Plut. 87. 10 text 185v-185v
13-14 Biblioteca Nacional de España (BNE), 04641 text 189r-v
13 in. Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana (BNM), gr. Z. 524 (coll. 0318) Tzetzes 033
13 ex. Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III, II D 04 s² (scholia, Scheer) Tzetzes, text 003v--53v
13 ex - 14 in Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III, III AA 06 Tzetzes 122-125
13 ex. Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2403 D Tzetzes, text 058-99v images shown
13 1282 Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2723 C Tzetzes, text 004v--76v images shown
13 ex.-14 in. Universitätsbibliothek, Pal. gr. 040 Tzetzes, text 065-87*
13 1201 Universitätsbibliothek, Pal. gr. 045 Tzetzes 231v-233*
13 ex.-14 in. Universitätsbibliothek, Pal. gr. 356 Tzetzes 163v-165v*
14 Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Barb. gr. 004 text 001--186*; 055-56
14 Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Vat. gr. 0117 f (paraphrase, Scheer) Tzetzes, text 030-113*
14 1311 ante Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Vat. gr. 0915 Tzetzes, text 214-216v,218-220v,236-239v,56-57v
14 ex. Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Vat. gr. 0950 Tzetzes 050-67v
14 (2/4) Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Vat. gr. 1421 Tzetzes, text 203--239v
14-15 Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Vat. gr. 1825 Tzetzes 161r-v
14 Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana (BML), Plut. 31. 08 text 208-244*
14 in. Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana (BML), Plut. 32. 52 Tzetzes, text 120v-122* link to library
14 in. Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana (BNM), gr. Z. 465 (coll. 0763) text 085-142v
14 med. Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III, ex-Vind. gr. 15 Tzetzes, text 002--82v
14 Biblioteca Riccardiana, 0069 Tzetzes, text 004--111v
14 1326 Biblioteca Universitaria, Biblioteca Histórica, 0031 Tzetzes
14 in. Bodleian Library, Canon. gr. 041 Tzetzes 100-103*
14 Bodleian Library, Selden Supra 18 Tzetzes, text 067-126*
14 (2/2) British Library (BL), Harley 5735 Tzetzes, text 130-135v
14-15 Emmanuel College, 032 (I.2.11) Tzetzes, text 047-77v
14 Universitätsbibliothek, Pal. gr. 018 Tzetzes, text 009-97*
14 University Library, Ff. IV. 47 (1290) text 066v-113v
15 Biblioteca Ambrosiana, A 057 sup. (Martini-Bassi 5) Tzetzes, text 006-119*
15 1491 Biblioteca Ambrosiana, A 200 inf. (Martini-Bassi 819) Tzetzes, text 001--119*
15 ex. Biblioteca Ambrosiana, C 032 sup. (Martini-Bassi 175) Tzetzes, text 129-206*
15 (2/2) Biblioteca Ambrosiana, D 030 sup. (Martini-Bassi 225) Tzetzes 157-159*
15 Biblioteca Ambrosiana, I 024 inf. (Martini-Bassi 1045) Tzetzes, text 006--148v*
15 Biblioteca Ambrosiana, Q 088 sup. (Martini-Bassi 688) Tzetzes 263v--276*
15 1481 Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Barb. gr. 249 Tzetzes, text 007---130v
15 Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Ott. gr. 065 Tzetzes
15-16 Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Pal. gr. 139 Tzetzes, text 310v-339v
15 1470-1471 Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Pal. gr. 142 text 082v-113*
15-16 Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Pal. gr. 158 Tzetzes, text 001-140v
15 1479 Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Reg. gr. Pio II 17 Tzetzes, text 003-118
15 (2/2) Biblioteca Casanatense, 0424 Tzetzes, text 001--263*
15 Biblioteca Casanatense, 1281 Tzetzes, text p. 9--217*
15 med. 1445-1453 Biblioteca Estense universitaria, α. T. 9. 14 (Puntoni 51) Tzetzes, text 116--188*
15 Biblioteca Estense universitaria, α. U. 9. 02 (Puntoni 60) text 003-4*
15 (3/4) 1456-1462 ca Biblioteca Estense universitaria, α. U. 9. 22 (Puntoni 93) Tzetzes 206v-207v, item 2
15 (3/4) Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana (BML), Ashb. 1144 text 131-180*
15 Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana (BML), Conv. Soppr. 170 Tzetzes, text 001-27*
15 Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana (BML), Plut. 32. 20 Tzetzes, text 001--100 link to library
15 Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana (BML), Plut. 32. 29 Tzetzes, text link to library
15 Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana (BML), Plut. 32. 36 text 001-52* link to library
15 ex. Biblioteca Nacional de España (BNE), 04551 Tzetzes, glosses, text 001-25v, 30v-31
15 1462 ca Biblioteca Nacional de España (BNE), 04607 Tzetzes 001v-2
15 (4/4) Biblioteca Nacional de España (BNE), 04808 Tzetzes, text 046v-81v
15 med. Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana (BNM), gr. Z. 475 (coll. 0825) Tzetzes, text 212v-242v
15 Biblioteca Nazionale Universitaria, C. VII. 06 (Pasini 299) Tzetzes, text
15 ex. Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III, II F 14 Tzetzes, text 015--139v
15-16 Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III, II F 15 Tzetzes, text 003--123v
15 Biblioteka Uniwersytecka we Wrocławiu, Rehdiger 032 Tzetzes, text 001-58v
15 Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 1310 Tzetzes 162v-216* images shown
15 Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2836 Tzetzes, text 001--106* images shown
15-16 1500 ca Bodleian Library, Auct. T. 1. 14 (Misc. 192) Tzetzes, text 001-24v
15 Bodleian Library, Barocci 153 Tzetzes, text 001-150* images shown
15 (1/2) British Library (BL), Burney 089 Tzetzes, text 006--47v
15 (2/2) British Library (BL), Harley 1752 text 050-89
15 British Library (BL), Harley 5634 Tzetzes, text 004-22
15 Emmanuel College, 033 (I.2.12) Tzetzes, text 095-102v
15 (1/2) Heidelberg, Universitätsbibliothek, Cod. Pal. graec. 264 text, Tzetzes 3v-99v images shown
15 Herzog August Bibliothek, Gud. gr. 027 Tzetzes
15 ex. Národní knihovna České republiky, VIII H 36 Tzetzes 068v-69; 067v-68v
15-16 Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (ÖNB), phil. gr. 257 text 132-143v
15 Real Biblioteca, R. I. 06 (Revilla 006) Tzetzes, text 001-112v
15 (3/4) Real Biblioteca, Σ. II. 07 (Revilla 087) text 249-250v
15-16 Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin (Preussischer Kulturbesitz), Phillipps 1589 (186) Tzetzes, text 003--140*
15, 16 Stiftsbibliothek, 69 Tzetzes, text I, 2--XXv, 2v
15-16 Trinity College, O.01.73 (1098) Tzetzes, text 69*--225*
15-16 1500 ca Universitätsbibliothek, Rep. I. 82 Tzetzes 033r-v
15 Γεννάδειος Βιβλιοθήκη, 261 text
15 Εθνική Βιβλιοθήκη της Ελλάδος (ΕΒΕ), 1060 glosses, text 001-94v
15 Μονή Ιβήρων, 0148 (Lambros 4268) Tzetzes, text 001-62v
16 (1/2) 1520-1525 ca Bayerische Staatsbibliothek (BSB), Cod.graec. 241 Tzetzes, text 021--214 images shown
16 Biblioteca Ambrosiana, B 039 sup. (Martini-Bassi 89) text 191-194
16 Biblioteca Ambrosiana, B 160 sup. (Martini-Bassi 156) Tzetzes, text 001-122v
16 Biblioteca Ambrosiana, P 011 sup. (Martini-Bassi 612) Tzetzes, text 001--338*
16 Biblioteca Ambrosiana, P 067 sup. (Martini-Bassi 625) text 081-110*
16 Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Ott. gr. 313 Tzetzes
16 Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Ott. gr. 369 Tzetzes
16 Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Pal. gr. 070 Tzetzes 073v-77
16 Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Ross. 0655 Tzetzes 128-130v
16 in. Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Vat. gr. 0916 Tzetzes, text 010*--236v
16 Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Vat. gr. 0927 Tzetzes, text 029
16 Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Vat. gr. 0972 Tzetzes, text p. 4-
16 (1/2) Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Vat. gr. 1586 Tzetzes, text 001-286*
16 (1/2) Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Vat. gr. 2246 Tzetzes 116v
16 med. Biblioteca de Catalunya, 1170 Tzetzes 147v-148
16 in. Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana (BNM), gr. IX. 022 (coll. 1161) Tzetzes, text 001v--97v
16 med. Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III, II F 16 Tzetzes, text 004--176
16 Biblioteca Queriniana, A. VI. 33 Tzetzes, text 001-162
16 in. Biblioteca Universitaria, Biblioteca Histórica, 0009 Tzetzes, text
16 (1/2) 1528 Biblioteca Vallicelliana, Allacci 046 Tzetzes 017-37v
16 Biblioteca Vallicelliana, B 099 Tzetzes 029-34
16 Biblioteca Vallicelliana, E 21 text 572--579
16 (2/3) Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2724 Tzetzes, text 003v--96v images shown
16 (1/3) Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2725 Tzetzes, text 005--151 images shown
16 Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2837 Tzetzes, text 001--117* images shown
16 Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2838 Tzetzes, text 001--126* images shown
16 Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2839 Tzetzes, text 001-92* images shown
16 Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2840 text 001-37v* images shown
16 Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Grec 2890 Tzetzes, text 001--178* images shown
16-17 Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Supplément grec 0658 Tzetzes prolegomena 001-* images shown
16 Bodleian Library, Auct. T. 5. 05 (Misc. 267) Tzetzes 1*-162*
16 Bodleian Library, Gr. class. e. 017 Tzetzes, text 001--149
16 Bodleian Library, Gr. class. e. 018 Tzetzes 1.1-149
16 (1/2) British Library (BL), Harley 6319 Tzetzes, glosses, text 003--139
16 ex. British Library (BL), Royal 16 D IV Tzetzes 002-49
16 Lambeth Palace Library, 1205 Tzetzes, text 005-31
16 1541 Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (ÖNB), phil. gr. 043 Tzetzes, text 001--160; 001-160v
16 Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (ÖNB), phil. gr. 124 text 013-16v
16 Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (ÖNB), phil. gr. 282 Tzetzes, text 001-196v
16 Real Biblioteca, R. I. 09 (Revilla 009) text 185-345
16 Real Biblioteca, Χ. IV. 18 (Andrés 413) Tzetzes, text 001-61v
16 Saint-Rémi, abbaye O.S.B. (MAUR), 0559 [ms. détruit] Tzetzes
16 Universitaire Bibliotheken, Voss. gr. Q° 74 text 001-37*
16 Universitätsbibliothek, Pal. gr. 272 Tzetzes, text 1--120v
16 Βιβλιοθήκη της Μητροπόλεως, 052 Tzetzes
16 Εθνική Βιβλιοθήκη της Ελλάδος (ΕΒΕ), 1062 text 170v-225
16-17 Εθνική Βιβλιοθήκη της Ελλάδος (ΕΒΕ), 1896 Tzetzes, text 278-282v*
16 Μονή Ιβήρων, 0147 (Lambros 4267) Tzetzes, text 161-228
16 Πατριαρχική Βιβλιοθήκη, Αγίου Σάββα 545 Tzetzes Item 2
16 Σιναϊτικό Μετόχι Αθηνών, 003 Tzetzes, text 2v; 3
16 (1/2) Государственный Исторический музей (ГИМ), Син. гр. 501 (Vlad. 480) Tzetzes, text 252--313*
17 Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Supplément grec 0020 Tzetzes 155v images shown
17 Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Supplément grec 0456 text 022-76* images shown
17 1606-1607 ca. Bodleian Library, Cherry 37 text 009-20*
17 British Library (BL), Harley 4767 text 1--177v
17 University Library, Dd. VI. 84 (401) text p. 1-145
17 Российский государственный архив древних актов (РГАДА), Ф. 181, оп. 14 1291 text 057-130
18 Biblioteca Academiei Române (BAR), Ms. grec 0726 (Litzica 742) text 009-54v
18 Biblioteca Gambalunga, SC-MS 0753 text 001-160
18 Bibliothèque nationale de France (BNF), Supplément grec 0392 collation of a codex Regius (not a text copy) 074v-79* images shown
18 Εθνική Βιβλιοθήκη της Ελλάδος (ΕΒΕ), 1061 Tzetzes, text 001-131v
18 1723 Πατριαρχική Βιβλιοθήκη, Αγίου Σάββα 477 text 001-68*
18 Πατριαρχική Βιβλιοθήκη, Αγίου Σάββα 549 text Item 1
18 Πατριαρχική Βιβλιοθήκη, Παναγίου Τάφου 469 text 271-348*
— Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Barb. gr. 112 text 001-68v
— Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (BAV), Vat. gr. 1471 text
— Bodleian Library, Langbaine 08 text p. 179--191*
— Paris. Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des manuscrits, Supplément grec 756 glossary/scholia (Mynas), not the text images shown
— Βιβλιοθήκη του Πατριαρχείου, 181 Tzetzes, glosses, text 128-193