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Mathematical Treasure: 9th-century Manuscript of Boethius’ Arithmetic

Author(s): 
Frank J. Swetz (The Pennsylvania State University)

Boethius (ca 480–524/525) was one of the most influential early medieval philosophers. This illustrated manuscript of his De Institutione Arithmetica was copied in Tours, France, in 845. Here are images of the opening folia:

Folio 3v from a manuscript of Boethius' De Institutione Arithmetica copied in 845.

Folio 3r from a manuscript of Boethius' De Institutione Arithmetica copied in 845.

Folio 4r from a manuscript of Boethius' De Institutione Arithmetica copied in 845.

An illustration of Boethius seated with “Simmachus.” This is probably Quintus Aurelius Symmachus (ca 345–402) , a leading Roman statesman of the period.

Boethius portrayed with Quintus Aurelius Symmachus in a manuscript of his arithmetic copied in 845.

A folio from the “Table of Contents”:

Folio 8r from a manuscript of Boethius' De Institutione Arithmetica copied in 845.

An illustration representing the four muses of the quadrivium: music, arithmetic, geometry and astrology [astronomy].

Folio 9v from a manuscript of Boethius' De Institutione Arithmetica copied in 845.

An illustration, perhaps a schematic map:

Folio 28r from a manuscript of Boethius' De Institutione Arithmetica copied in 845.

The images above are provided courtesy of Bamberg State Library. A full digitization of this manuscript is available here. Additional copies of De Institutione Arithmetica in Convergence date from ca 1000, the 10th through 12th centuries, 1294, and 1521.

Index to Mathematical Treasures

Frank J. Swetz (The Pennsylvania State University), "Mathematical Treasure: 9th-century Manuscript of Boethius’ Arithmetic," Convergence (August 2022)