Lettori degli 'Astronomica' di Manilio tra X e XII secolo

Manilius’ Astronomica, a didactic poem composed in the 1st century CE, remained forgotten for a long time, at least until the end of the 10th century. This paper, therefore, aims to investigate the earliest and uncertain evidence of the medieval reception of the text, beginning with its possible rediscovery. In the first part, the article reexamines the textual evidence of the possible rediscovery of the poem by Gerbert of Aurillac in the library of Bobbio (epistles 8 and 130 Riché–Callou). The second part, however, demonstrates that the interest in Manilius’ poem shown by Gerbert of Aurillac was not an isolated phenomenon. Indeed, one of the oldest manuscripts of the Astronomica (Leipzig, Universitätsbibliothek, 1465), dating back to the 11th century, contains some interesting marginal glosses and reading marks in the first book. The analysis of the marginal notes thus provides valuable material for better understanding the ways in which the poem was read and helps to explain the erroneous attribution to Aratus of Soli.