Page from the Dresden Codex (11th or 12th century) Codex Gigas, "the Devil’s Bible" (1200s) Codex Gigas, otherwise known as ‘the Devil’s Bible’ is the largest and probably one of the strangest manuscripts in the world. It is so large that it is said to have taken more than 160 animal skins to make it and takes at least two people to lift it. It measures approximately 1 metre in length. According to legend, the medieval manuscript was made out of a pact with the ‘devil’, which is why it is sometimes referred to as the Devil’s Bible. It was written in Latin during the 13th century AD, and although the origin of the manuscript is unknown, a note in the manuscript states that it was pawned in the monastery at Sedlec in 1295.
The story behind the making of Codex Gigas (“the giant codex”) is that it was the work of one monk who was sentenced to death by being walled up alive. Stories and legends say that the Codex Gigas brought disaster or illness on whoever possessed it during its history. By John Black Related Links Codex Gigas – National Library of Sweden Codex Gigas – Wikipedia. A page of Leonardo's sketchbook showing a foetus in the womb (1510)
Irina Vinnik sketchbook (2011) Sketchbooks by Mattias.