Apparatus Criticus

Email List for Textual Criticism of Ancient Texts

Apparatus Criticus is an academic email list which focuses on the study of manuscripts and textual criticism. This includes the study of manuscript traditions, palaeography (paleography), epigraphy, the restoration of fragmentary texts, emendation proposals, and text-critical methods and applications. Other topics include major thinkers and innovators in the fields, such as A. E. Housman, Karl Lachmann, L. D. Reynolds, or relevant literature like Texts and Transmission: A Survey of the Latin Classics or Scribes and Scholars: A Guide to the Transmission of Greek Latin Literature.

The material should be limited to ancient literature of the Western World, the Graeco-Roman classics, Jewish or Christian works, the Qu'ran, ancient papyri, etc... all before the invention of the printing press.

All posts should be on topic and within the scope of the stated description. The list owner expects all posts to be evidenced by facts and scholarship. A working knowledge of either Greek, Latin, Syriac, Coptic, Arabic, or other languages of the texts in question is necessary for discussion on an actual text.

As a moderated list, members are ideally professionals working in a related field. Students are welcome, and so are others interested in seriously pursuing the subject matter, but both are expected to conduct themselves with professional decorum befitting a real academic event.

To subscribe, unsubscribe, or manage your subscriptions, Yahoo allows everything to be done via the web at the Yahoo group homepage.

If your preference is through email, then:

• To subscribe, send an email to here including who you are, your reasons for joining, and your academic qualifications.



• To unsubscribe, send a blank email to here.



• Or you can contact the list owner.

Sending emails and managing how you receive them can also be configured at the Yahoo group homepage.

If your preference is through email, then contact the list owner who can change your settings.

There are several options for how you receive your email:

• Single Emails - You'll receive an email every time someone posts to the Apparatus Criticus



• Daily Digest - You'll receive a daily batch of emails for posts to the list



• Daily Summaries - Instead of the full text of the emails, you'll only get an index of the lists sent to the group.



• Web Only - You'll receive no emails, instead only reading the posts on the web

The rules for Apparatus Criticus are nominal, but are in place to secure smooth, efficient, and helpful discussion of textual matters.

1. Please keep all contributions, threads and posts, to the list relevant and appropriate. Please follow standard academic decorum - assertions should be supported by evidence and proposals should follow a complete trajectory grounded in proven methodologies. Discussion should be conducted with courtesy. Ad hominem attacks are not tolerated - attack the argument, not the person who makes the argument.



2. All list members should identify themselves, both before they sign on, and appended to the end of each message. This information should include your real, full name, institutional affiliation (if any), and homepage (if applicable). Anonymity is strictly forbidden, and pseudonymity is not allowed either.



3. Do not send attachments to the list - for anything that cannot be converted to plain text, let it be known what you have and let list members request for you to send it to them privately. This is to prevent the spread of viruses. Also, do not forward emails about virus alerts without verification. These are often hoaxes, but regardless are off-topic for the list.



4. Please truncate the unnecessary parts of a message to which you're replying.



5. As adults, good grammar and spelling is paramount. Please proofread your messages before sending them to the list.



6. Those who fail to observe these protocols will be warned. Enough transgressions can warrant a status where all messages sent will be moderated before they're sent to the list, or, if it persists, can warrant a ban.

Access to the archives is restricted to members only. If you are a member, access them by clicking here.

Apparatus Criticus was founded in March of 2007 by Chris Weimer to serve as a list for those interested in textual criticism for works other than the Bible, since there were none at the time. Chris Weimer currently serves as the list-owner and moderator. He's a student at the University of Memphis majoring in Latin and Greek with a minor in Judaic Studies.

As a brand new list, Apparatus Criticus is currently looking for qualified candidates to moderate the list. If interested, please send an email to Chris Weimer.