in the course of the article. Their notices have been collected and arranged by various modern writers : as Huet (Origeniana, lib. i.) ; Cave (Apostolici, or Lives of the Primitive Fathers, and Hist. Litt. ad A.D. 230, vol. i. p. 112, ed. Oxon. 1740 — 3) ; Doucin (Hist. De l'Origenisme, liv. i. ii.); Tillemont (Mémoires, vol. iii. p. 494, &c.) ; I)upin {Nouvelle Biblioth. Trois Premiers Siècles, vol.i, p. 326, &c. 8vo. Paris, 1698, &c.) ; Oudin {De Scriptorib. Eccles. vol. i. col. 231, &c.) ; Ceillier (Auteurs Sacres, vol. ii. p. 584) ; Fabricius f^^Bibl. Graec. vol. vii. p. 201, &c.) ; and Neander (Church History^ vol. ii. p. 376, &c. Rose's translation).
Works. I. Editions of the Old Testament. Origen prepared two editions of the Old Testament, known respectively as Tetrapla "The Four-fold," and Hexapla, "The Six-fold." To the latter
the names Octapla, "The Eight-fold,"' and Enneapla, "The Nine-fold," have been sometimes
given; but the last name is not found in any
ancient writer. There is a difference also in the
form of these names. Origen himself, Eusebius, and
Jerome use the plural forms (
Greek characters), Tetrapla, and
(Greek characters), Hexapla; but later writers use the sin-
gular forms, (Greek characters), Tetraplum, and (Greek characters),
Hexaplum. Epiphanius, in one place, speaks of
(Greek characters), Sextuplices Libros. The
names (Greek characters),Quadruplex Columna (s. pagina), Sextuplex Columna,
Octuplex Columna were also applied to the work
by ancient writers. In one citation the name to
(Greek characters), is found. In
some cases a book of Scripture is cited thus:
(Greek characters), i. e. "Jeremiah in the Hexapla." But this multiplicity of
names must not mislead the reader into the supposition that Origen prepared more than the two works,
known respectively as the Tetrapla and Hexapla.
Which of the two was first published has been a
subject of great dispute with the learned. The
text of Eusebius (H. E. vi. 16, ad fin.) is not settled in the place which refers to this point, nor
would be decisive if it was. Montfaucon (Praelim. in Hexapla, c. iii.) has cited some passages from
Origen and other writers, which indicate the priority of the Tetrapla; and the supposition that the
less complete and elaborate work was the earlier is
the more probable, especially if we receive the testimony of Epiphanius, that the Hexapla was finished
at Tyre, during the time that Origen resided there.
For as that residence appears to have extended only
from the close of the Decian persecution to his
death, it is not likely that he would have had
either time or energy to publish the Tetrapla, though
it would, indeed, have been only a portion of the
Hexapla separated from the rest of the work.
The Hexapla consisted of several copies of the
Old Testament, six in some parts, seven in others,
eight in others, and nine in a few, ranged in parallel
columns. The first column to the right contained
the Hebrew text in Hebrew characters, (i. e. those
now in use, not the more ancient Samaritan letters,)
the second the same text in Greek characters, the
third the version of Aquila. the fourth that of
Symmachus, the fifth the Septuagint, the sixth the
version of Theodotion, the proximity of these several
versions to the columns containing the Hebrew
text being determined by their more close and
literal adherence to the original ; and the seventh,
eighth, and ninth columns being occupied by three
versions, known from their position in this work
as (Greek characters)
Quinta, Sexta, et Septima Editiones, i. e. versions.
Each of the first six columns contained all the books
of the Old Testament, and these six complete
columns gave to the work its title Hexapla: the
other columns contained only some of the books, and
principally the poetical books, and from them the
work derived the titles of Octapla and Enneapla,
which were therefore only partially applicable. The
assertion that the title Hexapla was given to the
work on account of its having six Greek versions,
we believe to be erroneous. We give as a specimen
a passage from Habakkuk ii. 4, which is found in
all the columns.
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The Tetrapla contained the four versions, the Septuagint, and those of Aquila, Symmachus, and Theodotion. Of the versions of Aquila, Symmachus, and Theodotion, an account is given under their respective names, and of the Septuagint there is a brief notice under Aristeas. Of the three remaining versions we give here a brief account. The Quinta Editio, according to Epiphanius (De Mensuris et Ponderib., c. 17, 18), and the author of the Synopsis S. Scripturae, which is ascribed to Athanasius, was found at Jericho in a wine jar, by one of the learned men of Jerusalem ; and Epiphanius adds the date of the discovery, the seventh year of Caracalla (A.D. 217 or 218). The Editio Sexta, according to the same authorities, was also found in a wine jar at Nicopolis, on the Ambracian gulf, in the reign of Alexander Severus. These dates would accord respectively with the time of Origen's first visits to Palestine and to Greece. Ancient writers, however, differ as to the discovery of these versions. According to one passage in Jerome (Prologus in Exposit. Cantic. Canticor. secundum Origen.), Origen himself stated, that the Quinta Editio was found at Nicopolis: according to Zonaras (Annal. xii. 11), the Septima was found at Jericho; and according to Nicephorus Callisti, both the Sexta and Septima were found there. Eusebius states that one of the versions was found at Jericho and one at Nicopolis, but does not give their numbers. The difference between these authorities is owing more probably
