The Codex Gigas, the largest extant medieval illuminated manuscript in the world, at a length of 92 cm (36 in), at the National Library of Sweden in Stockholm, Sweden in 1906.
The Codex Gigas, often called the “Devil’s Bible,” was created in the early 13th century, most likely between 1224 and 1230, at the Benedictine monastery of Podlažice in what is now the Czech Republic. Weighing approximately 75 kg (165 lbs) and containing 310 parchment leaves made from the skins of an estimated 160 donkeys or calves, it remains the largest surviving medieval illuminated manuscript.
The manuscript contains the complete Latin Vulgate Bible, as well as historical texts by Josephus, medical treatises, calendars, exorcism formulas, and penitential texts. Its nickname derives from a full-page illustration of the Devil, one of the largest known medieval depictions of Satan. According to legend, a monk created the entire manuscript in a single night after making a pact with the Devil, although scholars estimate it would have required at least 20 to 30 years of work.
Added Fact: The Codex Gigas was taken to Sweden by the Swedish army as war booty during the Thirty Years’ War in 1648. It survived a devastating fire at Stockholm’s Royal Castle in 1697 after being thrown from a window to save it from the flames.
