Latin and Visualization

In Latin, the classic justification for visualization usually argues that verbalization may not be enough to explain complex topics. One of these texts has just shown up on the Vatican Library online portal in connection with an arbor juris diagram in a law textbook, Vat.lat.2707:

Quod si non fuerint aures tibi sufficientes
Aspiciant oculi sic designata legentes.

The idea on this bit of doggerel is that what won't go in your ears might well reach your understanding via your eyes. The oldest mention of this idea goes back to Cassiodorus (see my webpage about him). The verse is written in this 12th century manuscript of the Decretum abbreviatum at the head of a page to introduce a diagram of kinship:

The diagram is of considerable interest in itself. Its layout is classified as Schadt Type 5 (see my handbook to the types) and it is notable for having a double "self" (the little busts at the centre: perhaps implying the legal subject may sometimes be female) and for eliminating one degree of lateral kinship (it leaves the ultimate cousin squares blank).

In all 63 new manuscripts came online in the past week:

1. Barb.lat.2161,
2. Barb.lat.3981,
3. Chig.C.IV.109, a beautiful book of hours
   

   Chig.C.IV.109 is almost certainly mid 15th C from Paris.

   — AaronM (@gundormr) February 25, 2018

4. Ott.lat.2453.pt.A, a newspaper-style news-of-the-past-year summary from 1644: Diario Venentiano Sopra L'Anno. Not great journalism though: the reporter often notes just the weather:
   
5. Vat.lat.2179,
6. Vat.lat.2332,
7. Vat.lat.2396 (Upgraded to HQ),
8. Vat.lat.2422,
9. Vat.lat.2494 (Upgraded to HQ),
10. Vat.lat.2501,
11. Vat.lat.2565,
12. Vat.lat.2575,
13. Vat.lat.2577,
14. Vat.lat.2614,
15. Vat.lat.2643,
16. Vat.lat.2647,
17. Vat.lat.2648 (Upgraded to HQ),
18. Vat.lat.2654,
19. Vat.lat.2660 (Upgraded to HQ),
20. Vat.lat.2661,
21. Vat.lat.2665,
22. Vat.lat.2677,
23. Vat.lat.2685,
24. Vat.lat.2687 (Upgraded to HQ),
25. Vat.lat.2689,
26. Vat.lat.2691 (Upgraded to HQ),
27. Vat.lat.2693 (Upgraded to HQ),
28. Vat.lat.2699,
29. Vat.lat.2701,
30. Vat.lat.2706,
31. Vat.lat.2707, a law book (above). See Schadt, Hermann, Die Darstellung der Arbores Consanguinatis, pp 148, 150, 192

    In this list figures Val. Lat. 2707, a manuscript with the Decretum Gratiani, has been digitized, not just "a law book", but influential from the mid-twelfth century up to 1917 https://t.co/QK2J0SnQzX

    — GlossaeIuris (@GlossaeIuris) February 27, 2018

32. Vat.lat.2708,
33. Vat.lat.2709,
34. Vat.lat.2710 (Upgraded to HQ),
35. Vat.lat.2713 (Upgraded to HQ),
36. Vat.lat.2716,
37. Vat.lat.2717,
38. Vat.lat.2718,
39. Vat.lat.2723,
40. Vat.lat.2727 (Upgraded to HQ),
41. Vat.lat.2728,
42. Vat.lat.2729,
43. Vat.lat.2732,
44. Vat.lat.2736,
45. Vat.lat.2740 (Upgraded to HQ),
46. Vat.lat.2743,
47. Vat.lat.2746,
48. Vat.lat.2748,
49. Vat.lat.2751,
50. Vat.lat.2762,
51. Vat.lat.2768,
52. Vat.lat.2770,
53. Vat.lat.2771,
54. Vat.lat.2773,
55. Vat.lat.2778,
56. Vat.lat.2779,
57. Vat.lat.2786,
58. Vat.lat.2796,
59. Vat.lat.2797,
60. Vat.lat.2887,
61. Vat.lat.2938,
62. Vat.lat.2986,

    Aristotle, Physica, tr. Georgius Trapezuntius. Seeing double? H/T @JBPiggin https://t.co/qaqa2ln5F9https://t.co/7I6jZkxP6c pic.twitter.com/OyBCGi5O2D

    — Pieter Beullens (@LatinAristotle) February 26, 2018

63. Vat.turc.218,

This is Piggin's Unofficial List number 151. Thanks to @gundormr for harvesting. If you have corrections or additions, please use the comments box below. Follow me on Twitter (@JBPiggin) for news of more additions to DigiVatLib.