Parva Naturalia and Ambigua

A digital scan of a two-page spread from a parchment manuscript. Each page contains two columns of Greek text. There are occasional red ink initials and rubricated headings (introductory phrases) used to mark the beginning of new excerpts from historical authors.

Folio 10r (Right-hand page)

... and these things ... and ... of his ... toward ... and ... the ... in ... the ... indeed ... but ... through ... the ... not ... only ... but ... also ...?
... toward ... the ... of the ... same ... and ... the ... not ... toward ... the ... of him ... and ... his ... and ... his ... and ... his ...?
... and ... and ... his ... and ... his ... and ... his ... and ... his ... and ... his ... and ... his ...?
... and ... and ... his ... and ... his ... and ... his ... and ... his ... and ... his ... and ... his ...?
... and ... and ... his ... and ... his ... and ... his ... and ... his ... and ... his ... and ... his ...?

That King Antiochus original: "Ὅτι ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἀντίοχος." The "That..." (Hoti) construction is the standard way Byzantine scribes introduced a new historical excerpt. The king mentioned is likely Antiochus III the Great or Antiochus IV Epiphanes of the Seleucid Empire. since he saw some? of his friends and those holding high honors—and others who had been present in the wars, and those active in public affairs—who had once possessed the greatest authority and noteworthy honors, now fallen by the hand of Fortune original: tyche. In Hellenistic history, Fortune was seen as a fickle power that could raise or ruin even the most powerful kings. and plunged into the greatest misfortunes.

... and ... those ... in ... the ... toward ... the ... his ... and ... the ... his ... and ... the ... his ... and ... the ... his ... and ... the ... his ... and ... the ... his ...?
... and ... and ... the ... his ... and ... the ... his ... and ... the ... his ... and ... the ... his ... and ... the ... his ... and ... the ... his ...?
... and ... and ... the ... his ... and ... the ... his ... and ... the ... his ... and ... the ... his ... and ... the ... his ... and ... the ... his ...?

The text likely summarizes historical events from Polybius or Diodorus Siculus as preserved in the Constantinian excerpts. The use of "That..." at the start of paragraphs is the standard format for this collection of excerpts, intended to provide moral and political examples for the Emperor's administration.