Codex Gigas XXLCodex Gigas XXL The Legendary Devils Bible The Codex Gigas, famously known as the Devils Bible, is the largest surviving medieval manuscript ever created. This extraordinary work of medieval scholarship has fascinated historians, collectors, and scholars for centuries. Created in the early 13th century in the Benedictine monastery of Podlaice in Bohemia, the gigantic manuscript contains 624 pages written in Latin, produced from the skins of

Codex Gigas XXL — The Legendary Devil’s Bible

The Codex Gigas, famously known as the Devil’s Bible, is the largest surviving medieval manuscript ever created. This extraordinary work of medieval scholarship has fascinated historians, collectors, and scholars for centuries.

Created in the early 13th century in the Benedictine monastery of Podlažice in Bohemia, the gigantic manuscript contains 624 pages written in Latin, produced from the skins of approximately 160 animals, and weighs nearly 165 pounds.

The Codex Gigas combines an extraordinary range of texts including the Old and New Testaments, historical works by Flavius Josephus, medical treatises, and the famous Etymologies by Isidore of Seville, forming one of the most ambitious manuscripts ever created in medieval Europe.

Today the manuscript is preserved in the National Library of Sweden in Stockholm, where it remains one of the most remarkable artifacts of medieval culture.

This Codex Gigas XXL facsimile edition recreates the monumental presence of the original manuscript, allowing collectors and historians to experience the legendary Devil’s Bible as one of the greatest masterpieces of medieval bookmaking.

Key Features

• Monumental XXL facsimile edition of the Codex Gigas
• Known worldwide as The Devil’s Bible
• The largest medieval manuscript ever created
• Originally produced in the Benedictine monastery of Podlažice (13th century)
• Contains 624 pages written in Latin
• Includes the famous full-page portrait of Lucifer
• Combines biblical texts, chronicles, and medieval scholarship
• A remarkable collector’s edition for libraries, historians, and rare book collectors

The Legend of the Devil’s Bible

According to medieval legend, the manuscript was written by a Benedictine monk known as Herman the Recluse, who promised to create a book containing all human knowledge. When the task proved impossible to complete in one night, the story says he made a pact with the Devil.

In return for finishing the manuscript, the Devil demanded that his portrait be included in the book. The Codex Gigas indeed contains one of the most famous images in medieval art — a full-page illustration of Lucifer, which gave rise to the manuscript’s enduring nickname: The Devil’s Bible.

Modern scholars believe the manuscript was actually written by a single scribe over many years, as the handwriting remains remarkably consistent throughout the entire work.

A Monument of Medieval Bookmaking

Beyond its legend, the Codex Gigas is an extraordinary achievement of medieval manuscript production. Its monumental scale, rich contents, and mysterious history have made it one of the most celebrated manuscripts in the history of the book.

This XXL facsimile edition brings the legendary manuscript back to life, allowing modern collectors to rediscover one of the most fascinating artifacts of the medieval world.

Codex Gigas Manuscript Pages and Illuminations

Below you can explore several pages from the Codex Gigas XXL facsimile, the legendary Devil’s Bible manuscript created in the 13th century. These images reveal the monumental scale of the book, the carefully written Latin text, and the extraordinary medieval craftsmanship that made the Codex Gigas the largest surviving medieval manuscript. Among its most famous illustrations is the legendary full-page portrait of Lucifer, one of the most iconic images in medieval manuscript history.