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CodexGigas 513 Mark, illuminated manuscript

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CodexGigas 513 Mark, illuminated manuscript

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Summary

The Codex Gigas (English: Giant Book) is the largest extant medieval manuscript in the world. It is also known as the Devil's Bible because of a large illustration of the devil on the inside and the legend surrounding its creation. It is thought to have been created in the early 13th century in the Benedictine monastery of Podlažice in Bohemia (modern Czech Republic). It contains the Vulgate Bible as well as many historical documents all written in Latin. During the Thirty Years' War in 1648, the entire collection was taken by the Swedish army as plunder, and now it is preserved at the National Library of Sweden in Stockholm, though it is not normally on display.

The Codex Gigas, also known as the Devil's Bible, is famous for two reasons: it is believed to be the world's largest preserved medieval manuscript (Codex Gigas means "giant book") and it contains a large full-page portrait of the Devil. The Codex Gigas was created for a Bohemian monastery, but was brought to Sweden as spoils of war in the 17th century. Among other things, the manuscript contains a complete Bible, historical texts, magic formulas and spells.

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Date

1250
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Source

National Library of Sweden
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Copyright info

public domain

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