The Skilled Scribes of Medieval Manuscripts: Preservers of Knowledge and Culture

In the context of medieval manuscripts, a scribe (scriptor in Latin) was a person who copied texts by hand. Scribes were responsible for transcribing religious texts, legal documents, and other written works into manuscript form. They were skilled in penmanship, spelling, and grammar, and often added decorative initial letters and illuminations to their work.

The term "scriptor" is derived from the Latin word "scribere," which means "to write." In medieval times, scribes played a vital role in preserving knowledge and culture by copying and transmitting written works. Many of the surviving manuscripts from this period are the result of the laborious efforts of scribes who spent countless hours copying texts by hand.