Codex Argenteus

The Codex argenteus [ ko ː dɛks argɛnteʊs ] (Latin codex, " book"; argenteus, " silver " ) is the residue of Gospels in Gothic language, which is preserved in the University Library Carolina Rediviva to Uppsala. Originally least 336 sheets comprehensive codex is written with silver - and gold-colored ink on parchment colored purple. Referred to by the name " Silver Code " and not, as often wrongly assumed to 1665 added silver single band, because the name Codex argenteus appeared already 1597.

History of the manuscript

The Codex contains parts of the four Gospels as a copy of the Gothic translation of the Bible ( Wulfilabibel ) of Bishop Ulfilas (Lat. Ulfilas ) ( 311-383 ) and one of the oldest written records of a Germanic language. The codex was probably written around 500 in northern Italy, probably for Theodoric the Great. He is first in the monastery becoming detectable and was sold in 1573 by the Abbot Henry of Duden the future Emperor Rudolf II, who kept the treasure in the Prague Castle.

Towards the end of the Thirty Years' War the Codex fell at the looting of Prague Swedish troops in the hands and arrived after a few detours into the possession of the Swedish Chancellor Magnus Gabriel de la Gardie, who was also Chancellor of the University of Uppsala. This gave the university library in 1669 the now remaining 187 sheets provided with the newly -built silver single band.

Another sheet of the Codex was discovered in October 1970 in the cathedral at Speyer in a product coming from Aschaffenburg reliquary.

The text of the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13 EU) is in the Codex argenteus follows:

Importance of the Codex

The Codex argenteus (besides the four leaves of the Codex Gissensis, also the four leaves of the Codex carolinus and the 193 sheets of the codices Ambrosiani A-E) one of the few extensive traditional products, in the Gothic language.