anonymous: Codex Gigas, f. 289–290 (13th century)

(National Library of Sweden, Stockholm, Sweden)

Two illuminated pages by an unknown Czech artist. These two pages come from the Codex Gigas, aka the Devil's Bible). This codex was created in the Benedictine monastery of Podlažice in Bohemia (a region in the modern-day Czech Republic). this very large book consists of the complete Vulgate Bible, Josephus's Antiquities of the Jews and De Bello Iudaico, Isidore of Seville's encyclopedia Etymologiae, the chronicle of Cosmas of Prague , Ars medicinae compilation of treatises, and two books by Constantine the African. These two pages are the most famous of the codex. On the left is a full page depiction of the kingdom of heaven. On the right is a depiction of the devil. According to a story the codex was written by a monk who broke his vows. in order to avoid punishment, he promised to create a book in one night to glorify the monastery forever. Near midnight the monk realised he couldn't complete his task so he made a prayer to the devil asking him to help him finish the book in exchange for his soul. The devil completed the manuscript and the monk added the devil's picture out of gratitude for his aid. Book from the early 13th century.