Hypatian Codex
The Hypatian Codex (also known as Hypatian Letopis or Ipatiev Letopis; Belarusian: Іпацьеўскі летапіс; Russian: Ипатьевская летопись; Ukrainian: Іпатіївський літопис, romanized: Ipátijivśkyj litópys, IPA: [ipˈɑtʲijiu̯sʲkɪj lʲiˈtɔpɪs]) is a svod (compendium) of three letopis chronicles: the Primary Chronicle, Kievan Chronicle and Galician-Volhynian Chronicle.[1] It is the most important source of historical data for southern Rus'.[2]
The codex was discovered in what is today's Ukraine in 1617 by Zacharias Kopystensky, and was then copied by monks in 1621.[3] It was re-discovered in the 18th century at the Hypatian Monastery of Kostroma by the Russian historian Nikolay Karamzin.[4]
The codex is the second oldest surviving manuscript of the "Initial svod" (Primary Chronicle), after the Laurentian Codex. The Hypatian manuscript dates back to ca. 1425,[1] but it incorporates much precious information from the lost 12th-century Kievan and 13th-century Galician chronicles. The codex was possibly compiled at the end of the 13th century.[2]
Since 1810, the codex has been preserved in the Russian National Library, St Petersburg. The language of this work is Old Church Slavonic with many East Slavisms.
Editions
References
- Velychenko, Stephen (1992). National History as Cultural Process: A Survey of the Interpretations of Ukraine's Past in Polish, Russian, and Ukrainian Historical Writing from the Earliest Times to 1914 (illustrated ed.). CIUS Press. p. 142. ISBN 0-920862-75-6.
- Dimnik, Martin (1994). The Dynasty of Chernigov 1054–1146. Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies. p. xii. ISBN 0-88844-116-9.
- Velychenko, p. 144.
- Perfecky 1973, p. 11.