The paper studies the typology of the initials following the way of construction of their corpus in the mutual ties in the development – departing from the late antique, considering the Byzantine and Pre-Romanesque and Romanesque types. The modifications of the initials are studied together with the changes of their function in the decoration system and in the cultural-historical context. The contribution also studies the changes of the terminology connected with the typology of the initials.
The paper is engaged with a definition of the typolotgy and modifications fo the caligraphic initials, compared with the typology of painted initials, and also with a comparative study of the terminoloty used in different languages for the specific compositions. The interest is also focused on relations among countries, regions and workshops that participated in the transformations of the caligrafic initials. The subject is studied on a broad period, from the Late Antiquity till the 16th century, but without a typology of fleuronée, only compositions of the body of the initials have been taken into consideration.
Our comparison of samples from the Záblacký Bible with the first, second and third editions of the Old Czech Bible translation confirms Kyas's classification of the Záblacký Bible as a compilation translation, containing parts with texts from different editions of the Old Czech Bible. Some of its books belong to the first edition of the Old Czech Bible translation, some to the second, or the first and the second edition against the third edition, and some indicate conformity to third edition bibles. Some parts show conformity with the second and simultaneously the third editions against the first edition. In some places the Záblacký Bible even has its own reading, which we have not found in any other bible that we have worked with.