[kj] Something Jaz might like: 165 lb. medieval "Devil's Bible"displayed in Czech Republic

[Brendan Quinn]

Wow you learn the coolest things on this list.the theft of that would make a
good plot for a book or a movie.

 

Okay, a mediocre plot maybe.probably end up with Kevin Costner starring in
it. 

 

  _____  

From: gathering-bounces at misera.net [mailto:gathering-bounces at misera.net] On
Behalf Of Lennonka
Sent: Friday, 21 September 2007 10:36 p.m.
To: A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!)
Subject: Re: [kj] Something Jaz might like: 165 lb. medieval "Devil's
Bible"displayed in Czech Republic

 

Cool!
I didn't know that we don't own the Cosmas' Chronicle (it's a part of this
codex important for Cz history.)
[The overview of literature and history has never been my cup of tea...]

Thanks for this, Oliver : ) 

Llennia

"Time means nothing."

2007/9/21, B. Oliver Sheppard < bigblackhair at sbcglobal.net
<mailto:bigblackhair at sbcglobal.net> >:

Wikipedia entry on this fascinating book is here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codex_Gigas



http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070920/lf_afp/czechswedenhistorycultureart_070
920150923;_ylt=Aju9kpQoFJecmZLj3Tc5IicFO7gF


  Czechs get chance to view rare medieval manuscript

/Thu Sep 20, 11:09 AM ET/

Czechs got the chance to examine the world's biggest medieval
manuscript, the "Codex Gigas" or "Devil's Bible," for the first time in
almost 359 years on Thursday when the precious work went on show as part 
of a four-month-long exhibition.

The 13th century masterpiece, considered at the time as the eighth
wonder of the world, was carried off as booty by Swedish troops from
Prague during the Thirty Years' War but has returned at the end of 
painstaking negotiations and preparations between Prague and Stockholm.

The 624-page, 75-kilogramme (165-pound) work is on display in a
specially designed safe-like room in a former Jesuit college in the
centre of historic Prague with visitors limited to 10 at a time and
rationed to a few minutes each.

The book is so valuable that its Swedish owners insisted on a state
guarantee worth 300 million koruna (10.8 million euros, 15.1 million
dollars) rather than a normal commercial insurance to cover any
eventualities, director of the Czech National Library, Vlastimil Jezek,
explained at the unveiling of the exhibition.

The return of the "Devil's Bible," which owes its name to a superb
illustration of the devil found inside and the legend about its creator,
demanded long-drawn out negotiations.

"During discussions, you could feel on the Swedish side the underlying 
question: 'If we lend this to you Czechs, will you give it back to us?'"
Jezek recounted with a wry smile.

The manuscript was the work of a monk working at the Pozlazice monastery
located in the centre of the current Czech Republic. The monastery was 
destroyed during the 15th-century wars of religion.

Legend has it that the monk was condemned to be walled up alive for
committing a grave crime. To escape from that slow death, he proposed to
create the masterpiece in a night so that it would bring glory to the 
monastery and wipe out his sins.

To achieve that, however, he had to solicit help from the devil and, in
recognition of that aid, slipped in the illustration of his "helper" in
the final work.

Lodged among the Prague treasures of the celebrated arts collector
Emperor Rudolph II, the rare book was carried off by troops of Swedish
general Konigsmark at the end of the Thirty Years' War.


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