Translation mistakes? (Barlaam et Joasaph, cod. Athon. Iviron 463)

Abstract

The marginal Old French translation in a codex kept on Mount Athos, Iviron № 463, is a remarkably precise translation of the Greek main text, the abridged version of the romance- hagiography Barlaam and Josaphat. Now and then, however, minor spelling mistakes and mistranslations are part of the text, nevertheless, with more careful analysis, these do not appear to be mistakes at all. In this study, examples for such instances are discussed: the author of the paper lists transcriptions/readings which are different from the Greek original and seem to be mistakes at first glance, but the translator’s deliberate intent can be assumed in the mentioned cases, and therefore, they can provide valuable data about the social and cultural background of the unknown translator of the Iviron-manuscript and about the historical and social context of the translation.

Keywords

• cod. athon. iviron 463
• greek version of barlaam and joasaph
• old french translation
• critical edition
• hagiography
• proper nouns
• aristides: apology
• al-zarqālī (abūishāq ibrāhīm al-zarqālī / arzachel)
• balaam’s donkey
• crocotta
• theodore graptos: kynolykos(κυνόλυκος)