Scribe

Scribes had historical significance throughout multiple civilizations. They had the role of transcribing and preserving ancient texts that can be accessed in universities, museums, and academic areas across the globe. As media and technology has advanced, the traditional role of a scribe does not hold its once necessary weight. Continue reading to learn about the historical impact of a scribe.

Definition:

Prior to the invention of automatic printing, a scribe is a professional copyist who hand wrote manuscripts. Scribes were very relevant in Jewish, Greek, and Arab cultures. They were highly valued in society and made a significant amount of money. Being a scribe is hard work; it took a toll on workers bodies and minds.

The Tools of a Scribe:

Ancient illustration of a scribe at work.

All manuscripts were written by hand. The writing tool was usually a traditional quill and thick, glutinous ink was used. All scribes prepared their own pens, each unique as there was no instruction on how to cut a quill. The best quills came from a goose or swan. Animal skins were used for writing materials. Animal skins included sheep, goats, pigs, and calves. The skin would have to be tightened and made rubbery. It would be secured by pegs, onto a wooden frame. The skin would be coated in hot water then scrapped using a lunellum, a crescent-shaped knife, to tighten it, making it able to be written on. When it was tight as a drum, the now parchment is rolled up to either be stored for later use or sold.

The Book in Society:

In Robinson's The Book in Society, the physical role of the scribe within history is examined. The author wrote about the demand that scribes faced, writing "Manuscript copying was exacting--and exhausting--work. Depending on their skill, the size and complexity of the text being copied, and the season of the year, scribes could produce from one to ten leaves per day, or between two and twenty pages." Robinson also takes the reader through the trials and tribulations that a scribe would face. For instance, the ink must dry on one side before starting on the next. This could take anywhere between minutes to hours depending on the amount of writing occurring. After a passage is completed, a corrector will review it with the goal of finding mistakes. If the corrector discovered any mistakes or errors in the transcription, the scribe would have to scrape off the ink of that specific portion with a knife or a piece of pumice, smooth out the area, and rewrite the passage.

Historical Impact Within Civilizations:

As Christianity seeped into European culture, it introduced Mediterranean values. The Rule of St Benedict encouraged ideas of religious figures in literature and in hand introduced libraries to religious communities. Up until the twelfth century, manuscripts were made in monasteries by Monks. Monks spent their days copying manuscripts, originating this role and idea of a scribe. By 110, the number and demand of manuscripts was increasing, forcing monastic libraries to hire secular scribes and illuminators to help produce books. As literacy rates rose, the popularity of acquiring texts in places like universities was in high demand, leading to the rise of secular workshops and bookshops. From here, the demand for scribes increased, alluding to their value and social status.

Roman artifact showing a scribe, alluding to the cultural relevance of a scribe.

Like previously stated, scribes had significant roles within societies across the globe. Specifically in Rome, Roman scribes, or scribae, were viewed as public officials and had high social status. This was due to their high literacy and specialized knowledge. The role of a scribae included maintaining archives, writing important documents, and supporting the functions of administrations such as early republic all the way to late empire. As early as the fourth century BCE, scribes were known as "custodians of written laws and state documents" and dominated the literacy realm. Their higher knowledge allowed them to dominate all social capital and ascend the Roman social hierarchy. This could lead to corruption as they had an obscene amount of power but there were set moral implication in their work, attempting to dilute controversy. As ideas of hierarchy and the functions of society evolved, the role of the scribe changed.

The role of scribes in ancient Judaism isn't much different. They played a crucial role in society, especially during and after the Babylonian Exile. Scribes had similar responsibilities for recording, interpreting, and transmitting divine revelations, and using written texts like scrolls and tablets. Jewish scribes had external influence such as Mesopotamian culture and traditions. For instance, these scribes turned to astronomical data and observed celestial bodies. In the Bible, Enoch is depicted as a scribe who writes books to pass on knowledge. Following the Babylonian Exile, Aramaic became the main language used for scribes, allowing writing to be more accessible. Similar to Mesopotamian scholarly practices, scribes were also bilingual and were seen as cultural mediators.

No matter the location of the scribe, the cultural significance was consistent. Scribes had the responsibility of bridging the gap between spoken prophecy and written texts. They preserved and interpreted sacred traditions, allowing them to be relevant in present day.