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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Marci Minucii Felicis Octavius''}}
 
{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Marci Minucii Felicis Octavius''}}
 
===by Marcus Minucius Felix===
 
===by Marcus Minucius Felix===
__NOTOC__
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{{BookPageInfoBox
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|imagename=MinuciusMarciMinuciiFelicisOctavius1750TitlePage.jpg
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|link=https://wm.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01COWM_INST/g9pr7p/alma991026807809703196
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|shorttitle=Marci Minucii Felicis Octavius
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|author=[[:Category:Marcus Minucius Felix|Marcus Minucius Felix]]
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|editor=[[:Category:John Davies|John Davies]]
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|lang=[[:Category:Latin|Latin]]
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|publoc=[[:Category:Glasgow|Glasguae]]
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|publisher=In aedibus academicis excudebant Robertus et Andreas Foulis
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|year=1750
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|pages=[4], 112, [12]
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|desc=[[:Category:Octavos|8vo]] (16 cm.)
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|shelf=A-4
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}}[[wikipedia:Marcus Minucius Felix|Marcus Minucius Felix]] (d. ca. 250 CE) was a Roman advocate, rhetorician, and Christian apologist. His only known work,<ref>''Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy'', s.v. "[http://www.iep.utm.edu/minucius/ Minucius Felix (c. 2nd and 3rd C. CE)]," accessed Oct. 8, 2013.</ref> ''Octavius'', one of the earliest Christian apologies in Latin. It is a dialogue between pagan Caecilius Natalis and a Christian, Octavius Januarius. We know little about the author, Marcus Minucuis Felix, other than that he was a lawyer and a Christian.<ref>''Encyclopaedia Britannica Online'', s.v. "[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/384629/Marcus-Minucius-Felix Marcus Minucius Felix]," accessed October 17, 2013.</ref>
  
==Bibliographic Information==
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<blockquote>
'''Author:''' Marcus Minucius Felix
+
Minucius is of interest not only to theologians and Church historians, but also to those with an interest in philosophy and rhetoric. Unlike other Latin apologists of the period, such as Tertullian, who asserted ''credo quia ineptum'' (I believe because [it is] absurd) (''De Carne Christi'' 5.4), and who was openly hostile to speculative philosophy, Minucius attempted to establish at least the ''rational possibility'' of the Christian faith. The rhetoric found within the ''Octavius'' can be considered Ciceronian, having elements of the six-part speech (exordium, narration, partition, confirmation, refutation, and conclusion). This text represents an important stage in the evolution of rhetoric from a primarily oral, forensic, and political art, to a literary art.<ref>''Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy'', s.v. "Minucius Felix."</ref>
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</blockquote>
  
'''Title:''' Marci Minucii Felicis Octavius
+
The edition in George Wythe's collection was edited by [[wikipedia:John Davies (Queens')|John Davies]] (1679 &ndash; 1732), who was president of Queens' College, Cambridge. He was close friends with the eminent classicist [[wikipedia:Richard Bentley|Richard Bentley]], who contributed to many of Davies's editions.<ref>Thompson Cooper, "[http://www.oxforddnb.com.proxy.wm.edu/view/article/7248 Davies, John (1679–1732)]," rev. S. J. Skedd in ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (Oxford University Press, 2004- ), accessed October 17, 2013.</ref>
  
'''Publication Info:''' Glasguae: In aedibus academicis excudebant Robertus et Andreas Foulis ..., 1750.  
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==Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library==
 +
Listed in the [[Jefferson Inventory]] of [[Wythe's Library]] as "Minucii Felicis Octavius. 12mo. Foulis." This was one of the books kept by [[Thomas Jefferson]]. The Foulis Press printed only one title by Minucius, in 1755.<ref>Philip Gaskell, ''A Bibliography of the Foulis Press'', 2nd ed. (Winchester, Hampshire, England: St Paul's Bibliographies, 1986), 145.</ref> Jefferson owned two copies of this work. He sold one to the Library of Congress in 1815, but it no longer exists to establish Wythe's prior ownership.<ref>E. Millicent Sowerby, ''Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson'' (Washington, D.C.: The Library of Congress, 1952-1959), 2:42 [http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015033648109;view=1up;seq=54 [no.1332]].</ref> The [https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433 Brown Bibliography]<ref> Bennie Brown, "The Library of George Wythe of Williamsburg and Richmond," (unpublished manuscript, May, 2012) Microsoft Word file. Earlier edition available at: https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433</ref> mentions this copy and the one sold in 1829 after Jefferson's death, but Brown does not speculate about which copy previously belonged to Wythe. [http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe George Wythe's Library]<ref>''LibraryThing'', s.v. "[http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe Member: George Wythe]," accessed March 4, 2014.</ref> on LibraryThing also includes the Foulis publication with the note "Not sold to Congress in 1815." The Wolf Law Library purchased a copy of the Foulis edition.
  
'''Edition:'''
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==Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy==
 +
Bound in contemporary calf, rebacked. Board edges stamped and gilt. Purchased from Rosenlund Rare Books and Manuscripts.
  
==Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library==
+
Images of the library's copy of this book are [https://www.flickr.com/photos/wolflawlibrary/albums/72157637877524164 available on Flickr.] View the record for this book in [https://wm.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01COWM_INST/g9pr7p/alma991026807809703196 William & Mary's online catalog].
 +
 
 +
===Full text===
 +
*[http://lawlibrary.wm.edu/wythepedia/library/MinuciusFelixMarciMinuciiFelicisOctavius1750.pdf ''Marci Minucii Felicis Octavius''] (2MB PDF)
  
==Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy==
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==See also==
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*[[George Wythe Room]]
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*[[Jefferson Inventory]]
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*[[Wythe's Library]]
  
===References===
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==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
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==External Links==
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Read this book in [http://books.google.com/books?id=XtIPAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover Google Books.]
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 +
__NOTOC__
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[[Category:George Wythe Collection at William & Mary's Wolf Law Library]]
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[[Category:Jefferson's Books]]
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[[Category:John Davies]]
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[[Category:Marcus Minucius Felix]]
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[[Category:Religion]]
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[[Category:Titles in Wythe's Library]]
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[[Category:Glasgow]]
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[[Category:Latin]]
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[[Category:Octavos]]

Latest revision as of 12:38, 26 October 2021

by Marcus Minucius Felix

Marci Minucii Felicis Octavius
MinuciusMarciMinuciiFelicisOctavius1750TitlePage.jpg

Title page from Marci Minucii Felicis Octavius, George Wythe Collection, Wolf Law Library, College of William & Mary.

Author Marcus Minucius Felix
Editor John Davies
Translator {{{trans}}}
Published Glasguae: In aedibus academicis excudebant Robertus et Andreas Foulis
Date 1750
Edition {{{edition}}}
Language Latin
Volumes {{{set}}} volume set
Pages [4], 112, [12]
Desc. 8vo (16 cm.)
Location Shelf A-4
  [[Shelf {{{shelf2}}}]]

Marcus Minucius Felix (d. ca. 250 CE) was a Roman advocate, rhetorician, and Christian apologist. His only known work,[1] Octavius, one of the earliest Christian apologies in Latin. It is a dialogue between pagan Caecilius Natalis and a Christian, Octavius Januarius. We know little about the author, Marcus Minucuis Felix, other than that he was a lawyer and a Christian.[2]

Minucius is of interest not only to theologians and Church historians, but also to those with an interest in philosophy and rhetoric. Unlike other Latin apologists of the period, such as Tertullian, who asserted credo quia ineptum (I believe because [it is] absurd) (De Carne Christi 5.4), and who was openly hostile to speculative philosophy, Minucius attempted to establish at least the rational possibility of the Christian faith. The rhetoric found within the Octavius can be considered Ciceronian, having elements of the six-part speech (exordium, narration, partition, confirmation, refutation, and conclusion). This text represents an important stage in the evolution of rhetoric from a primarily oral, forensic, and political art, to a literary art.[3]

The edition in George Wythe's collection was edited by John Davies (1679 – 1732), who was president of Queens' College, Cambridge. He was close friends with the eminent classicist Richard Bentley, who contributed to many of Davies's editions.[4]

Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library

Listed in the Jefferson Inventory of Wythe's Library as "Minucii Felicis Octavius. 12mo. Foulis." This was one of the books kept by Thomas Jefferson. The Foulis Press printed only one title by Minucius, in 1755.[5] Jefferson owned two copies of this work. He sold one to the Library of Congress in 1815, but it no longer exists to establish Wythe's prior ownership.[6] The Brown Bibliography[7] mentions this copy and the one sold in 1829 after Jefferson's death, but Brown does not speculate about which copy previously belonged to Wythe. George Wythe's Library[8] on LibraryThing also includes the Foulis publication with the note "Not sold to Congress in 1815." The Wolf Law Library purchased a copy of the Foulis edition.

Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy

Bound in contemporary calf, rebacked. Board edges stamped and gilt. Purchased from Rosenlund Rare Books and Manuscripts.

Images of the library's copy of this book are available on Flickr. View the record for this book in William & Mary's online catalog.

Full text

See also

References

  1. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, s.v. "Minucius Felix (c. 2nd and 3rd C. CE)," accessed Oct. 8, 2013.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica Online, s.v. "Marcus Minucius Felix," accessed October 17, 2013.
  3. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, s.v. "Minucius Felix."
  4. Thompson Cooper, "Davies, John (1679–1732)," rev. S. J. Skedd in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2004- ), accessed October 17, 2013.
  5. Philip Gaskell, A Bibliography of the Foulis Press, 2nd ed. (Winchester, Hampshire, England: St Paul's Bibliographies, 1986), 145.
  6. E. Millicent Sowerby, Catalogue of the Library of Thomas Jefferson (Washington, D.C.: The Library of Congress, 1952-1959), 2:42 [no.1332].
  7. Bennie Brown, "The Library of George Wythe of Williamsburg and Richmond," (unpublished manuscript, May, 2012) Microsoft Word file. Earlier edition available at: https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433
  8. LibraryThing, s.v. "Member: George Wythe," accessed March 4, 2014.

External Links

Read this book in Google Books.