Codex Gigas; It is the largest medieval manuscript found in the world. Estimated to have been written in a monastery in the early 13th century, the book is considered the largest handwritten book in the world. The book is also known as the “Devil’s Bible” because of the images of the devil and the legends of the devil told about it. It is said that the book was dictated by the devil overnight, and that he had his own picture in it. Experts examining the book on these rumors; they claim that it was written by a single hand and that it was finished in a very short time, even overnight. The handwriting character, letter sizes and even the spacing between words have never changed. It is written neatly and orderly, as if it came out of a printing machine.
Codex Gigas; It is an extremely important manuscript with its content, features, size, weight and binding technique. The book, which weighs 75 kg, consists of approximately 640 pages. All pages of the 92×50 cm and 22 cm thick book are made of approximately 160 donkey skins. The information given in the content of the Codex Gigas book is also very rich. It contains a wealth of information, including Old and New Testament texts, Latin literacy guides, dictionaries, examples of writing styles, the church calendar, annual holidays, and a list of saints. Codex Gigas; It was captured as a trophy by the Swedish Empire during the Thirty Years’ War in 1648 and is now kept in the Swedish National Library in Stockholm.
The Writing Story of the Codex Gigas Book
Researchers who wanted to learn more about the book were able to reach an interesting legend about the book by meeting with the people of the region. This myth is a story about the writing of the book that can be quite chilling. However, the facts about where and how the Codex Gigas was actually written, and when it was written and written are still not fully known.
According to the legend told; In a medieval church, there are peaceful priests who aim to pray, study, read books and prepare manuscripts. One of these priests, a priest who is very skilled in manuscripts, commits a great crime and is sentenced to death. Realizing that he cannot escape this punishment, the priest swears that he will write the greatest medieval manuscript the church has ever seen in return for his salvation. Then the nun is given a day’s time and various inks and skins are placed in front of her. The doors are closed and everyone is waiting for what kind of work the priest will produce. Hours before sunrise, strange sounds begin to come from inside. Some priests are frightened and walk away from the door, but the time is up. When the doors opened, there was nothing but the unconscious priest and the book he had written.
According to this legend, while writing the book, the priest realizes that despite all his skill and effort, he cannot complete the manuscript overnight, and in the morning he begs Satan for help. The devil appears in the library and comes to the priest. However, he presents two conditions for his help; the first is that the priest sells his soul to himself, and the second is that a picture of himself is drawn on one of the pages of the Bible. The bargain, which lasts all night, ends at sunrise. The priest who wants to be saved from death accepts the wishes of Satan and thus the Devil’s Bible is revealed. Seeing the book, the priests begin to rummage through this marvelous book, adorned with wonderful colors, with admiration and reverence. While reading the holy lines in the Bible, they come face to face with Satan, who is the worst enemy of believers in one of the pages that are suddenly turned. Somewhere in the middle of the Bible, a full page-size horned and naked demon is staring at the reader.
Scientists say that the stories told about the Codex Gigas have no connection with reality. The Codex Gigas is actually considered a holy book by the Czechs and is considered the 8th wonder of the world. However, with the Swedes victorious in the war known as the 30 Years’ War, the book is taken to Sweden. 50 years after it was taken, a fire in the Swedish Palace causes damage to the book. However, thanks to an unknown person, the book is saved from burning completely. This event still remains a mystery. Because during the fire, the door of the room where the treasures were located was locked and there was no one in the room at that time. While all of the treasures locked in the room were burning, the Devil’s Bible was thrown out of the window and saved from burning, and only its cover was damaged.
