Codex Gigas: The Devil’s Bible

The Codex Gigas, which translated to English means, Giant Book, and pictured above is said to be the largest known medieval manuscript in the world.

The Codex Gigas is exceptional in its size. Not only is its cover is made from wooden boards, but the book measures out at 92 x 50.5 centimeters and weighs 75 kilograms. During the Middle Ages it was compared to the Seven Wonders of the World.

The book is made up of 312 parchment leaves, or 624 pages. Originally, there were 320 sheets, but eight pages were cut out of the book for some unknown reason. To obtain enough of the parchment, the skin of some 160 animals – probably calves – was needed. [source]

No one knows for sure who wrote this manuscript, dated to the early 13th century. That fact has given rise to numerous legends attempting to explain its existence. Here’s a particularly eerie one:

A legend concerning a monk of Podlažice walled up alive for his sins had already appeared in medieval times. He attempted to expiate his guilt by writing the world’s biggest book in a single night. Realizing the task to be beyond his powers, he invoked the aid of the Devil. The Devil aided him, had his portrait painted in the book and demanded the monk’s soul as payment. [source]

Recently National Geographic HD aired an hour long documentary about the book and the investigation of the manuscript by various experts. Here’s an excerpt from the show:

The findings experts in the program were that the book was the work of a solitary scribe over what must have been years, perhaps as many as 30. Perhaps doing penance for some unknown or perceived sins it turns out the book may have been the work of an entire lifetime.

Further sources for more about Codex Gigas – The Devil’s Bible:

• Codex Gigas at the Swedish National Library site where you can also peruse high resolution scans of the book.
• National Geographic’s Mysteries of the Bible page for the episode titled Devil’s Bible

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