ACKERMANAt a glance
History, context & interpretation
The text and its story
The largest surviving medieval manuscript, holding the Bible, medical texts, history and spells. It was taken as war loot to Stockholm in 1648.
Traditional attribution
Legend says a monk wrote it in one night with the Devil's help.
Historical scholarship
Probably the work of one scribe over 20 years or more, at the monastery of Podlažice.
Context and curiosity
It is about 92 cm tall and was made from around 160 animal skins.
Chronology and transmission
This text belongs to Hermetic, Magical & Mysterious (Bohemia). The catalogue gives its approximate dating as early 13th century CE and original language or script as Latin. The dated manuscript witnesses and traditional claims may not refer to the same historical event.
Sources and further reading
Historical descriptions are educational summaries. Religious traditions, scholarly interpretations and unverified claims are distinguished where possible; imagery may be illustrative rather than an artifact photograph.
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