Codex Gigas "The Devil’s Bible"
March 18, 2009 
BEHIND THE CODEX GIGAS
Filled with satanic images and demonic spells, the cursed text, according to legend, sprang from a doomed monk’s pact with the devil. What else do we know about this mysterious Devil’s Bible?
- The Devil’s Bible is so huge that it requires at least two people to carry it.
- Once considered the eighth wonder of the world, the Codex Gigas stretches three feet long and weighs a hundred and sixty-five pounds.
- It is the only book that places the Old and New Testaments alongside violent, holy incantations.
- The Codex Gigas contains one full page – right opposite the devil portrait – of a towering Heavenly City. Although no people can be seen in the Heavenly City, it is a symbol of hope and salvation, a contrast to the portrait of the devil on the opposing page.
- The Codex Gigas includes mystical medical formulas for anything from treating ailments such as fevers and epilepsy to resolving practical problems such as finding a thief.
- The book’s transfer to Prague in 2008 took a year of planning. It was insured for $15.1 million during the transfer.
- The Devil’s Bible has 600 pages, which is 310 parchment leaves, all made from donkey skins.
There is no other manuscript like it. It contains a combination of texts that exist nowhere else. It is a most peculiar, strange, haunting, fascinating, large, bizarre, inexplicable object. And behind it all there’s a diabolical driving force. A single, sinister figure. Satan. Dare you scan its pages?
The legendary Codex Gigas manuscript.
Close up of a Necrology page.
Manuscript open to the New Testament in Bible. The Codex is the only book that places the Old and New Testaments alongside violent, holy incantations.
The Codex boasts a full-page portrait of the Devil. No other Bible on Earth features such a sizable image of evil incarnate. No one knows who created it, or why it’s there.
Manuscript open to the New Testament in Bible.
Close up of a Necrology page.
According to legend the scribe was a monk who broke his monastic vows and was sentenced to be walled up alive. In order to forbear this harsh penalty he promised to create in one single night a book to glorify the monastery forever, including all human knowledge. Near midnight he became sure that he could not complete this task alone, so he sold his soul to the devil for help. The devil completed the manuscript and the monk added the devil’s picture out of gratitude for his aid.[1][7]
Despite this legend the codex was not forbidden by the Inquisition and was studied by many scholars.
Many aspects of the legend most probably originated in truth, however due to the large portrait of Satan which would have been unique at the time, it is likely that the legend altered the truth so that the story could be retold in a more interesting way. Anyone from the time who looked at the book would most likely be drawn to the portrait of Satan, thus getting the impression that this was one of the book’s focal points, explaining why people would believe that the monk made a pact with the devil. What many would have failed to see was that the page opposite this portrait was what is believed to be a picture of the kingdom of heaven. Now, many believe that double page spread was made to symbolize the fact that good and evil exist side-by-side, and nothing sinister.
What most likely happened is that the monk requested to produce the book in solitude, probably over a period of at least twenty years. Many monks would have used the copying of sacred texts as a method of purging their soul of evil, which could explain the monk’s motivation. The part of the legend that says that he was walled up alive as a punishment was probably a misinterpretation of his name, which is believed to be in Latin ‘Herman Inclusus’ or in English ‘Herman the Recluse’. This misinterpretation is understandable as the word ‘Inclusus’ could refer to either the punishment or voluntary solitude.
Previous Comments
how do i get a copy
Posted by amber centeno at April 9, 2009, 8:50 amwhat copy do you want to get?
Posted by Willy at April 9, 2009, 11:19 amtranslated in English of this book…i want to have a copy of this…rich_ong@ymail.com..
Posted by richard at April 12, 2009, 12:48 pmI would like a copy oof this also. zim696@yahoo.com
Posted by Cody at May 8, 2009, 9:15 pmHi this is admin willy. i got this info from the internet. I hope this manuscript will satisfy you. tahnks! http://www.kb.se/codex-gigas/eng/Browse-the-Manuscript/alphabets/?close=False&closechild=False&mode=0&page=2#content
Posted by belisima at May 9, 2009, 11:33 amhi!!!!!!
i am really very interested on the book…..
if theres chance,,,would you all make a copy of it???????on english version..?
i hope so,,,coz i can’t read latin”'’
……..hhmmph……
i would like to have a copy of that misteriouse big book…..!!!!!!
HOW???……
PLS. INFORM US!!!!!!!!
is there any english version of that book????
……..☻☻hhmmph☻☻…….
pls. ☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺inform us where we can buy………
♥♥thanks!!!!!!!
Good evening to all readers. The book is so large to take in control for having an English version. If we notice the book itself, it has been used and been stocked for long years. Experts could have a year to translate the book into English version. It won’t take an easy time for them to look at each page of the book. Each page may be easily torn but i also hope that there will be an English version of the book. Thank you. ^_^
Posted by belisima at May 30, 2009, 7:41 pmi want a copy of this book, complete manuscript, latin is fine-i read latin.
Posted by thegreenefaire at June 7, 2009, 9:39 amhttp://www.wdl.org/en/item/3042/pages.html#
Posted by McKiesling at July 2, 2009, 8:46 pmWorld Digital Library. If the link doesn’t work and you get an error message, just click okay and hit the back button.
Posted by McKiesling at July 2, 2009, 8:50 pmIf you can honestly translate it, send anything you got to McKiesling@yahoo.com.
Posted by McKiesling at July 2, 2009, 8:56 pmAny translations much appreciated 
many thanks
Posted by Oli at July 17, 2009, 2:57 amI would love a copy of the Codex Gigas written in English.
Posted by Cedric Young Jr at September 29, 2009, 6:58 amPor favor como posso ter uma copia dela, não me importa o idioma?
meu e-mail e angusps@gmail.com.
Por favor me mande uma resposta.
can i get a piece of the codex so i can read it
Posted by Raul at October 15, 2009, 6:22 amI would like to request a copy of the codex gigas translated in english. Thank You
Posted by Andy Molina at November 23, 2009, 12:18 ami too would like a copy of the Codex Gigas in english my email is mattlittlekingdevil@yahoo.com
Posted by matthew at December 11, 2009, 5:06 ami would like a copy of this book.
Posted by Gerardo Rico at December 28, 2009, 12:02 ami would like a copy of this book in english..
Posted by gerardor1982@yahoo.com at December 28, 2009, 12:05 ami would like a copy of the Codex Gigas in English
Posted by yohon at January 11, 2010, 1:22 ami would like a copy as well
Posted by john at February 16, 2010, 8:58 amI want to have a copy of it in english …… my e mail is saif9v@yahoo.com
Posted by ZeoV9 at April 8, 2010, 1:28 amI would like a copy in english
Posted by travis bishop at May 18, 2010, 5:59 amI am russian and I’d like a copy of codex gigas in russian language or in english. Thank you!
Posted by Eduard at July 19, 2010, 10:16 pmfuck satan!this is the most stupid think on earth! u’re all going to get burn ! Oh yeah _|_
Posted by christine at July 27, 2010, 6:38 pmhay i would like an english copy please
my e-mail is
can i have an english copy please
thanks
Christine, you know this Isn’t about the Devil, right? The only reason it’s called the “Devil’s bible” is for the picture it contains. It actually contains the old and new testament as well asrights to get rid of the devil. This is a case where you should probably learn a little something about it before commenting on it. Way to fail. And I love your attitude of damning everyone to hell with childish text bird flips. You make whatever religion you believe in look very bad.
Posted by Daphnie at August 7, 2010, 6:12 pmThis blog has definitely changed my perspective on this subject. Theres no way I wouldve thought about it this way if I hadnt come across your blog. All I was doing was cruising the web and I found your blog and all of a sudden my views have changed. Good on you, man!
Posted by dating agency at August 17, 2010, 2:49 pmI would love a copy in english please. My email address is tigertyler.win8@yahoo.com
Posted by tyler at January 11, 2011, 4:04 amI have been researching the Codex Gigas…drawn to it for some reason…any actual site that offers a true English translation would be greatly appreciated…thanks.
Posted by T. M. Long at January 12, 2011, 8:38 amInteresting blog. Actually google made searching of information easy on any topic. Well keep it up and post more interesting blogs.
Posted by Flights to Casablanca at January 13, 2011, 1:13 pmhow and were can i get a real copy of the deviles bible? i am so intrested in wut the book says!!! pleeeez inform me were and a price?
Posted by shawn at March 24, 2011, 1:36 amcan i have a copy of that codex gigas. thanks
Posted by rhave falle at April 3, 2011, 2:07 pmThe Codex Gigas is not a book you can request a copy of. It is a one of a kind Medieval manuscript of over 600 parchment pages. The woman who started this blog does not have the Codex, it is located in the National Museum of Sweden I believe. There is a english translation being released by BetaScript Publishing; however I can not speak on the accuracy of the translations or on what has been omitted, as this book is only 100 something pages. The actual manuscript is in a climate controled storage case, similar to what they keep the declaration of independence in. I dont see how it is possible for an author to have sat down with the actual manuscript and translated it. I am seeking a genuine translation of the full manuscript as well, I wish us all luck in finding one..however this type of scripture will find you if you are deserving of such.
Posted by Ashley at May 7, 2011, 11:19 pmWhere can I get a copy of this book.
Posted by Arthur at May 20, 2011, 6:37 amAll comments are moderated. Your comments will not appear here unless approved by the blog owner. Thank you.
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Check out The Devil’s Bible in fiction.
Posted by Chris Bauer at March 19, 2009, 5:08 pmSCARS ON THE FACE OF GOD: THE DEVIL’S BIBLE, a novel by C. G. Bauer
Drollerie Press 2008
Amazon.com, fictionwise.com, drolleriepress.com