Introduction
The seminars entitled Palaeography Between East & West, which I convened at Sapienza University, aimed at offering a forum, a place of sharing knowledge and debate, to scholars who deal with manuscript materials in
manuscripts
Giuseppe Caprotti et son double; entre manuscrits et monnaies yéménites
There was not just one Giuseppe Caprotti, but two. They both lived at the end of the 19th century, were both from the same region, and were in touch with each other. The two Giuseppe Caprotti are both famous, for collections named after them. Giuseppe Caprotti from Monte Albiate collected coins – Greek and Roman ones, as well as Italians coins and medals – and his coin collection was sold at auction; Giuseppe Caprotti from Besana Brianza, in his turn, is linked to the collection of Yemeni manuscripts now at the Ambrosiana Library and in other important European libraries.
From Monte Cassino abbey to St Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai, and back: the Journey of a Monk and the Encounter of Graphic Cultures
The contribution is focused on the journey of the monk John, future abbot of Monte Cassino’s abbey John III (997-1010), from Monte Cassino abbey to the monastery of St Catherine on Mount Sinai. Leo Ostiensis in his Chronica Casinensis, records John’s trip towards the Arabic East as well as his long stay in St Catherine’s monastery. Through John’s journey, and thanks to new textual and manuscript evidence recently discovered, seems possible to establish a link between Monte Cassino abbey and the monastery of St. Catherine.