In the world of Lacuna (manuscripts), we can find a wide variety of elements that allow us to explore and deepen their meaning. From its origins to the present, Lacuna (manuscripts) has played a fundamental role in people's lives, significantly impacting multiple aspects. Throughout history, Lacuna (manuscripts) has been the subject of study, debate and controversy, which has contributed to the enrichment of knowledge on this topic. In this article, we will delve into the world of Lacuna (manuscripts) to understand its importance, evolution and relevance in today's society.
A lacuna[Note 1] (pl. lacunae or lacunas) is a gap in a manuscript, inscription, text, painting, or musical work. A manuscript, text, or section suffering from gaps is said to be "lacunose" or "lacunulose".
Weathering, decay, and other damage to old manuscripts or inscriptions are often responsible for lacunae - words, sentences, or whole passages that are missing or illegible. Palimpsests are particularly vulnerable. To reconstruct the original text, the context must be considered. In papyrology and textual criticism, this may lead to competing reconstructions and interpretations. Published texts that contain lacunae often mark the section where text is missing with a bracketed ellipsis. For example, "This sentence contains 20 words, and nouns," or, "Finally, the army arrived at and made camp."
This particular lacuna is always reproduced in editions of the text, but many people have attempted to fill it, notably editors Wyatt-Chambers and Dobbie, among others, who accept the verb "waes" (was). Malone (1929) proposed the name Yrse for the unnamed queen, as that would alliterate with Onela. This, however, is still hotly debated amongst editors.hyrde ich thæt elan cwen.
— Fitt 1, line 62