#codex gigas

Randomly was reminded of this weird unidentified(?) ancient coin that was sold in an auction a few months ago. I'm pretty sure nobody is 100 percent completely certain on what's being depicted on the reverse, or where the coin was struck / the authority that struck it.

when i saw it i was like hey yeah i know what that is but i cant remember what im thinking of and then i remembered the codex gigas devil

but its iirc the theory is it’s probably just a depiction of Bes like this

and not some weird frog alien demon thingy

GENERAL — 9/262 — Books and libraries

Collecting and preserving written records goes back to ancient times, but the barbarians who sacked Rome in the 5th century destroyed a great many, so a lot of rare manuscripts have only been preserved indirectly, via the Arab world. Various materials were used to write on: pieces of fabric, papyrus or vellum (fine animal leather). Parchment was expensive and was therefore used primarily for codices and deeds of privilege, due to its significantly longer lifespan. The most widely used material was paper. The writing implements used included the quill pen, engraver, brush or reed cane, charcoal and chalk sticks. The transcription of books was the monks' domain. Each book was unique, carefully decorated, the text enriched with bounteous illuminations, all done by hand. The production of a book took many years, making them very expensive. Major works of that time came into being in Latin, but during the Middle Ages some literature began to appear in the respective national languages. Books were very heavy (so as to be hard to steal), and contained a great many pages. Although there were some miniature handbook formats, too, there were books so massive that they couldn't be carried by one man. Not only because of thier value, but to protect them from destruction, important writings were often kept in chests or cabinets. Only later did 'libraries' come into being, where the volumes would be tethered to the reading desk by a chain. Libraries were needed by administrative offices and places of learning, especially universities. The largest collections were to be found at the Sorbonne, Oxford and University of Prague, where there were books donated by Emperor Charles IV himself. Notable members of the nobility or the church also boasted private collections, despite the fact that not all of them could read.

TRIVIA

The Codex Gigas, or "Devil’s Bible", is the largest surviving medieval manuscript, measuring about 92 cm tall, 50 cm wide, and 22 cm thick (36 × 20 × 8.7 in) and weighing 75 kg (165 lbs). It contains 310 vellum pages made from 160 animal skins, though ten pages were later cut out. Compiled in early 13th-century Bohemia, likely by a single monk, it took an estimated 30 years to complete. The manuscript includes the entire Latin Bible, Josephus’s Jewish Antiquities and Jewish War, Isidore of Seville’s Etymologiae, Cosmas of Prague’s Chronicle of Bohemia, and texts on medicine, penitence, and exorcism.

According to one version of a legend already recorded in the Middle Ages, the scribe was a Christian monk who broke his monastic vows and was sentenced to be walled up alive. To escape death, he promised to create, in one night, a book to glorify the monastery forever, including all human knowledge. Near midnight, he became so desperate that he prayed to Lucifer to help him finish the book in exchange for his soul. The Devil completed the manuscript, and the monk added the Devil's picture as a tribute.

The codex later passed through Prague, where Emperor Rudolf II borrowed it from a monastery in 1594 and never returned it. Today it remains in the National Library of Sweden as one of the most prized artifacts of the Middle Ages.

The Codex Gigas, also known as The Devil’s Bible, is the world's largest and the most mysterious medieval manuscript -- once considered the eighth wonder of the world. The pages are said to be made from the skins of 160 donkeys.

According to the Codex legend, the lone creator scribe was a monk who broke his monastic code and was sentenced to be walled up alive with no chance of escape. There was only one way the monk could avoid his excruciating death -- he had to promise to create a beautiful and fascinating book to glorify the monastery forever, a book that would include all human knowledge, and maybe a dedication page.

There was one catch: he was given only twenty-four hours to complete the task, and only if the monk succeeded, would he then be free to live.

The monk began to compose a bible written on animal skins (after removing the animals), with colored inks and illustrations; completely illuminated with decorated initials and miniature border artwork. Then apparently, near midnight, the monk became worried that he could not complete this task alone...... So he ordered a pizza -- but he didn't have enough money. So he SOLD HIS SOUL TO THE DEVIL.