The Codex Gigas is a massive bible. It was created sometime between 1204 and 1230 by, possibly, a single Benedictine monk. Modern analysis seems to indicate that it was made by a single hand. If so, it would have taken him a very long time. The 310 pages are 89cm tall and 49cm wide. The book weighs 75kg.
The Codex Gigas is also called The Devil’s Bible because of a picture on one of the pages.
We have a few people to thank for the opportunity to see the book.
Firstly there was Holy Roman Emperor, Rudolf II who decided, in 1594, that it would look better as an object in his cabinet of curiosities in Prague, rather than hidden away in the depths of some Bohemian monastery.
Then there was the victorious Swedish army of 1648 who, having laid siege to Prague, decided to take the big book back home with them. It then, almost moved to Rome when the always intriguing Queen Christina abdicated and moved to Italy. She took most of her books but perhaps decided that the Codex was a bit too big.
The book is now housed in a special light and temperature controlled room in the Swedish National Library, where it has been since 1878, having survived a fire in 1697 by being thrown out of a window.
We visited the library today, having left Söder and headed across to Vasastan where we put our luggage into temporary storage before heading out.
Mirinda planned our day beautifully. There was the library then a visit to the exquisite Saluhall, covered market where we bought some delicious Lebanese bits and pieces for dinner at home. The market is amazing. Lot of stalls with lots of intriguing food. I reckon I’d shop there a lot if we lived nearby.
And, given it is covered, we managed to escape the torrential rain that fell, unexpectedly, while we sat having a drink at Lisa Elmqvist’s waiting for the wet to leave.
Eventually we headed back and checked into our new flat for the week. What a lovely place and so different to the flat on Söder. For one thing, someone actually lives in the new one. And the rooms are bigger. And there are mugs.
Tomorrow we have to wash some clothes and, because neither flat had a machine, we have to go to a nearby laundromat. That is fine except that the laundromat only takes cash and the exact amount.
After dinner, and leaving Mirinda talking to Jason, I headed out looking for an ATM that wasn’t closed. Three hours later, exhausted, footsore and sweating profusely, I returned with only two 500kr notes. Every ATM I visited (apart from one) was closed. Sweden is very much a cashless city so it’s difficult to get any when a business only uses it.
Anyway, it means an early trip to ICA in the morning to see if they’ll break one of the notes. Wish me luck, campers.
A mermaid wishing Gary luck with the laundry. Notice I’ve worn my legs down from too much walking. It’s a long way to Skanstull.
