Marian troparia are well represented among the fragments of early Greek chant texts preserved on papyrus sheets. Hypo tên sên eusplanchnian is a well-known example since it has parallel transmissions in other chant families, in Latin known as the antiphon Sub tuum praesidium. Many early theotokia on papyrus are ascribed to a specific mode, and some may even show traces of musical notation. This paper addresses a selection of early fragments containing Marian chants and investigate their relationship to the theotokia in the later Byzantine tradition.
Emneord: Faculty of Humanities: Byzantine music, papyrology, Eastern Orthodox Church Music