DCU professor uncovers rare Cicero text
Professor Colm Kenny, lecturer at Dublin City University, found the text inside a larger volume, where it had lain undiscovered for almost 200 years.
The ancient text by the Roman statesman and lawyer, Cicero, has lain hidden in the Law Library in Dublin since the 1800s. One of only 11 surviving copies worldwide, Prof Kenny found the rare book tucked away inside a larger book while he was carrying out research for a lecture on the famous philosopher.
“I knew it was an important book when I saw that it was printed in London in the 16th century,” Prof Kenny said.
“It really is a magnificent book to look at and the quality of the print is very good.”
The dual language Latin English book, titled ‘On Old Age — De Senectute’, examines the theme of old age, including how society values the elderly and what older people have to offer.
This is the only copy of the work that is known to exist in Ireland and just 10 other copies of the edition, which was printed in 1535, are known to survive internationally.
Prof Kenny was able to establish the edition’s importance by checking it against two other editions in Britain. (Source: Irish Examiner)
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