Distortion of the Scribal Hand in the Images of Clement’s Letter to Theodore

Roger Viklund; Timo S. Paananen

doi:10.1163/15700720-12341137

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Distortion of the Scribal Hand in the Images of Clement’s Letter to Theodore

in Vigiliae Christianae

Authors: Roger Viklund¹ and Timo S. Paananen¹

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⁰ Johannisforsvägen 40, 918 32 Sävar, Sweden roger.viklund@gmail.com Faculty of Theology, P.O. Box 33 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland timo.s.paananen@helsinki.fi

Online Publication Date:: 01 Jan 2013

Volume/Issue:: Volume 67: Issue 3

Article Type:: Research Article

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/15700720-12341137

Keywords:: Clement of Alexandria; forgeries (modern); handwriting analysis; Letter to Theodore; Secret Gospel of Mark

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Abstract

This article discusses Morton Smith’s famous manuscript find, Clement’s Letter to Theodore (including the so-called Secret Gospel of Mark), and critically assesses Stephen C. Carlson’s study of its handwriting (2005). Carlson’s analysis is found to be wanting due to line screen distortion introduced by the halftone reproduction process in the images he used. We conclude that the script in the manuscript of Clement’s Letter to Theodore lacks all and any kind of “signs of forgery”.

Distortion of the Scribal Hand in the Images of Clement’s Letter to Theodore

in Vigiliae Christianae

E-ISSN:: 1570-0720

Print ISSN:: 0042-6032

Publisher:: Brill

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References

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