The Codex Gigas: The Devil’s Bible

In the National Library of Sweden sits the largest surviving medieval manuscript in the world: the Codex Gigas, or “Giant Book.” Standing nearly three feet tall and weighing 165 pounds, this 13th-century manuscript contains something unique among religious texts - a massive, full-page portrait of the Devil. Legend says a doomed monk wrote the entire book in a single night, with Satan’s help, to save his life.

The Manuscript

Physical Description

The Codex Gigas is extraordinary:

• Height: 36 inches (92 cm)
• Width: 20 inches (50 cm)
• Thickness: 9 inches (22 cm)
• Weight: 165 pounds (75 kg)
• Pages: 310 leaves (620 pages)
• Material: Vellum (animal skin) from 160 donkeys

Two people are required to lift it. It takes nearly three feet of shelf space.

Contents

The manuscript includes:

• The complete Latin Bible (Vulgate translation)
• Josephus’s Antiquities of the Jews
• Isidore of Seville’s Etymologies
• Medical texts and treatments
• Magical formulas and incantations
• Historical chronicles of Bohemia
• A calendar of saints
• Confessional formulas
• Twelve pages that were removed (contents unknown)

And most famously: a full-page illustration of the Devil.

The Legend

The Doomed Monk

According to tradition, the manuscript was created at the Benedictine monastery of Podlažice in Bohemia (now Czech Republic) around 1204.

The story goes:

• A monk broke his monastic vows (the specific transgression varies by telling)
• He was sentenced to death by immurement (being walled up alive)
• He begged for a chance to redeem himself
• He promised to create a book that would glorify the monastery forever
• He was given one night to complete it

The Pact with Satan

Facing an impossible task:

• The monk realized he could not complete the work
• He called upon Satan for help
• The Devil agreed to write the book in exchange for the monk’s soul
• The book was completed by morning
• The monk added the Devil’s portrait as tribute

Some versions say the Virgin Mary saved the monk’s soul afterward. Others say Satan collected his due.

The Devil’s Portrait

The Image

Page 577 contains a full-page illustration unlike anything in medieval religious art:

• Satan is depicted in vivid green with red horns
• He has a lolling red tongue
• His hands and feet end in talons
• He crouches in a squatting position
• His arms are raised, almost in greeting
• The image takes up nearly the entire page

Placement and Purpose

Opposite the Devil’s portrait is a full-page image of the Heavenly City - perhaps representing the choice between good and evil, damnation and salvation.

No other medieval Bible contains such a prominent demonic image. Its inclusion has never been satisfactorily explained.

The Blackened Pages

The pages surrounding the Devil’s portrait are noticeably darker than the rest of the manuscript:

• Some suggest supernatural darkening from the image’s evil
• Scientific analysis indicates natural aging and handling
• The pages were likely displayed open more frequently
• But the legend persists

Scientific Analysis

The Single Scribe Theory

Modern analysis suggests:

• The entire manuscript was written by ONE person
• Handwriting analysis shows consistent style throughout
• This would have taken 25-30 years of continuous work
• The “one night” legend is physically impossible

The Writing Conditions

Researchers have determined:

• The writing is remarkably consistent
• No evidence of haste or fatigue
• The scribe maintained quality over decades
• This suggests monastic discipline, not demonic aid

The Missing Pages

Twelve pages have been removed:

• The original content is unknown
• Possibly monastery rules
• Possibly additional illustrations
• Perhaps something the church found objectionable

History

The Monastery Period (1204-1594)

The manuscript remained in Bohemian monasteries:

• Created at Podlažice
• Moved to Břevnov Monastery
• Later acquired by Prague’s Benedictine monastery

The Swedish Acquisition (1648)

During the Thirty Years’ War:

• Swedish forces looted Prague in 1648
• The Codex Gigas was taken as war plunder
• It entered Queen Christina’s library
• It has remained in Sweden since

Modern Era

Today the manuscript:

• Resides in the National Library of Sweden
• Is rarely displayed due to conservation concerns
• Was digitized and made available online
• Remains one of the world’s most unusual books

Paranormal Associations

Cursed Book Claims

Some believe the manuscript is cursed:

• The monastery of Podlažice was destroyed after creating it
• Misfortune allegedly follows its owners
• The book survived a fire that destroyed much of Stockholm’s royal library in 1697 (thrown from a window to save it)

Ritual Use

The book contains:

• Medieval magical formulas
• Exorcism texts
• Conjuration methods
• Whether these were used or were merely included for reference is unknown

The Monk’s Fate

If the legend has any truth:

• Did the monk receive something beyond normal ability?
• Did he believe he was inspired by dark forces?
• Is there a psychological element to the demonic imagery?

Significance

Literary/Historical

The Codex Gigas represents:

• Medieval encyclopedic ambition
• Monastic devotion (if one man truly wrote it)
• 13th-century knowledge compilation
• Unique approach to religious art

Paranormal/Legendary

The Devil’s Bible offers:

• A tangible “cursed object” with documented history
• A compelling origin legend
• Genuine mystery about its creation and purpose
• An image that defies medieval norms

Psychological

The manuscript raises questions:

• Why did a religious scribe create such a prominent demonic image?
• What drove someone to devote decades to a single book?
• Did the creator believe in the legend, or create it?

Visiting Today

The Codex Gigas:

• Is housed in the National Library of Sweden
• Is rarely displayed physically
• Can be viewed digitally online
• Remains Sweden’s most unusual national treasure

Legacy

The Devil’s Bible has inspired:

• Documentaries and books
• Novels and horror stories
• Ongoing historical research
• Continued supernatural speculation

An 800-year-old book, written possibly by one man over decades, contains a full-page portrait of Satan and a legend of damnation. Whether the story is true, symbolic, or purely fictional, the Codex Gigas stands as the world’s largest medieval manuscript - and its most mysterious.

The Devil inside continues to stare from those ancient pages, his meaning as obscure as the day he was drawn. And somewhere, perhaps, a monk’s soul still pays the price for his impossible book.