Delw y Byd

<p>This edition presents extracts from the medieval Welsh encyclopedia <em>Delw y Byd</em>. A medieval Welsh translation of the first book of the Latin encyclopedia known as <em>Imago Mundi</em> written by Honorius Augustodunensis in the first quarter of the twelfth century this text is a fine example of the ties between the intellectual world of Europe and Wales in the late-twelfth/early-thirteenth centuries when the text was translated ties that brought across the scientific knowledge based on Roman and late antique sources. Structured according to the four elements: earth water air and fire the text presents geographical anthropological and astronomical information often with historical and mythological contexts. The present edition follows that organizational principle providing a glimpse into the medieval understanding of the overarching structure of the universe.</p><p> </p><p>The text is presented in its historical and literary context with an updated account of its transmission. A commentary on the scientific context of the most interesting passages is provided as well as a linguistic one. The edition also provides an overview of the variants by printing parallel texts based on all surviving medieval manuscript witnesses for a number of selected chapters. This includes sections of two previously unpublished medieval witnesses of the text. The accompanying glossary includes vocabulary from all extracts included in the edition.</p>