Citizendia

This article is about medieval books. For other uses, see Codex (disambiguation).
First page of the Codex Argenteus
First page of the Codex Argenteus

A codex (Latin for block of wood, book; plural codices) is a book in the format used for modern books, with separate pages normally bound together and given a cover. The Codex Argenteus (or "Silver Bible" is a 6th century manuscript originally containing bishop Ulfilas 's 4th century translation of the Bible Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. A Book is a set or collection of written printed illustrated or blank sheets made of Paper, Parchment, or other material usually fastened together It was a Roman invention that replaced the scroll, which was the first form of book in all Eurasian cultures. A scroll is a roll of Papyrus, Parchment, or Paper which has been written drawn or painted upon for the purpose of transmitting information or using as

Although technically any modern paperback is a codex, the term is used only for manuscript (hand-written) books, produced from Late Antiquity through the Middle Ages. Paperback, softback, or softcover describe and refer to a Book by the nature of its binding. A manuscript is any Document that is Written by hand as opposed to being printed or reproduced in some other way Late Antiquity (c 300-600 is a Periodization used by historians to describe the transitional centuries from Classical Antiquity to the Middle Ages, in The scholarly study of manuscripts from the point of view of the bookmaking craft is called codicology. A manuscript is any Document that is Written by hand as opposed to being printed or reproduced in some other way Codicology (from Latin la ''cōdex'' Genitive la ''cōdicis'' "notebook book" and Greek grc -λογία -logia) is The study of ancient documents in general is called paleography. Palaeography, palæography ( British) or paleography ( American) (from the Greek grc παλαιός palaiós,

New World codices were written as late as the 16th century (see Maya codices and Aztec codices). The New World is one of the names used for the non-Eurasian/non-African parts of the Earth specifically the Americas and Australia. Maya codices (singular Codex) are folding Books stemming from the Pre-Columbian Maya civilization, written in Maya hieroglyphic Aztec codices (singular Codex) are Books written by Pre-Columbian and colonial-era Aztecs Those written before the Spanish conquests seem all to have been single long sheets folded concertina-style, sometimes written on both sides of the local amatl paper. A concertina is a free-reed Musical instrument, like the various Accordions and the Harmonica. Amatl (āmatl amate or papel amate) is a form of Paper that was manufactured in Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. So, strictly speaking they are not in codex format, but they more consistently have "Codex" in their usual names than do other types of manuscript.

The codex was an improvement upon the scroll, which it gradually replaced, first in the West, and much later in Asia. A scroll is a roll of Papyrus, Parchment, or Paper which has been written drawn or painted upon for the purpose of transmitting information or using as The codex in turn became the printed book, for which the term is not used. Printing is a process for reproducing text and image typically with ink on Paper using a printing press A Book is a set or collection of written printed illustrated or blank sheets made of Paper, Parchment, or other material usually fastened together In China books were already printed but only on one side of the paper, and there were intermediate stages, such as scrolls folded concertina-style and pasted together at the back. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National For the use of the technique in art see Woodcut on the technique and Old master print for the history in Europe and Woodblock printing in Japan. A concertina is a free-reed Musical instrument, like the various Accordions and the Harmonica. [1]

Contents

History

The basic form of the codex was invented in Pergamon in the 3rd Century BCE. Rivalry between the Pergamene and Alexandrian libraries had resulted in the suspension of papyrus exports from Egypt. In response the Pergamenes developed parchment from sheepskin; because of the much greater expense it was necessary to write on both sides of the page. Parchment is a thin material made from Calfskin, Sheepskin or goatskin. The Romans used similar precursors made of reusable wax-covered tablets of wood for taking notes and other informal writings. The first recorded Roman use of the codex for literary works dates from the late first century AD, when Martial experimented with the format. The 1st century was the Century that lasted from 1 to 100 according the Julian calendar. Marcus Valerius Martialis (known in English as Martial) (March 1 40 AD - ca At that time the scroll was the dominant medium for literary works and would remain dominant for secular works until the fourth century. A scroll is a roll of Papyrus, Parchment, or Paper which has been written drawn or painted upon for the purpose of transmitting information or using as Julius Caesar, traveling in Gaul, found it useful to fold his scrolls concertina-style for quicker reference, as the Chinese also later did. A concertina is a free-reed Musical instrument, like the various Accordions and the Harmonica. As far back as the early 2nd century, there is evidence that the codex—usually of papyrus—was the preferred format among Christians: in the library of the Villa of the Papyri, Herculaneum (buried in AD 79), all the texts (Greek literature) are scrolls; in the Nag Hammadi "library", secreted about AD 390, all the texts (Gnostic Christian) are codices. The 2nd century is the period from 101 to 200 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. Papyrus (/pəˈpaɪrəs/ (Rhymes -aɪrəs)is a thick paper-like material produced from the Pith of the papyrus plant Cyperus papyrus Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings The Villa of the Papyri is a private house in the ancient Roman city of Herculaneum (current commune of Ercolano) Herculaneum (in modern Italian Ercolano) is an ancient Roman town located in the territory of the current commune of Ercolano. Nag Hammadi ( Arabic نجع حمادي is a city in Upper Egypt. The earliest surviving fragments from codices come from Egypt and are variously dated (always tentatively) towards the end of the 1st century or in the first half of the 2nd. This group includes the Rylands Library Papyrus P52, containing part of St John's Gospel, and perhaps dating from between 125 and 160. The Rylands Library Papyrus P52, also known as the St John's fragment, is a fragment from a Papyrus Codex, measuring only 3 [2]

In Western culture the codex gradually replaced the scroll. Western culture (sometimes equated with Western Civilization) are terms which are used to refer to Cultures of European origin From the fourth century, when the codex gained wide acceptance, to the Carolingian Renaissance in the eighth century, many works that were not converted from scroll to codex were lost to posterity. The Carolingian Renaissance was a period of intellectual and cultural revival occurring in the late eighth and ninth centuries with the peak of the activities The codex was an improvement over the scroll in several ways. It could be opened flat at any page, allowing easier reading; the pages could be written on both recto and verso; and the codex, protected within its durable covers, was more compact and easier to transport.

Aztec warriors as shown in the Florentine Codex.
Aztec warriors as shown in the Florentine Codex. The Florentine Codex is the name given to 12 books created under the supervision of Bernardino de Sahagún between approximately 1540 and 1585

The codex also made it easier to organize documents in a library because it had a stable spine on which the title of the book could be written. A library is a collection of information sources resources and services and the structure in which it is housed it is organized for use and maintained by a public body an institution The spine could be used for the incipit, before the concept of a proper title was developed, during medieval times. The incipit of a text such as a Poem, Song, or Book, is its first few words or opening line

Although most early codices were made of papyrus, papyrus was fragile and supplies from Egypt, the only place where papyrus grew, became scanty; the more durable parchment and vellum gained favor, despite the cost. Papyrus (/pəˈpaɪrəs/ (Rhymes -aɪrəs)is a thick paper-like material produced from the Pith of the papyrus plant Cyperus papyrus Parchment is a thin material made from Calfskin, Sheepskin or goatskin. Vellum (from the Old French Vélin for "calfskin" is mammal skin prepared for writing or printing on single pages scrolls codices or books

The codices of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica had the same form as the European codex, but were instead made with long folded strips of either fig bark (amatl) or plant fibers, often with a layer of whitewash applied before writing. The pre-Columbian era incorporates all period subdivisions in the history and prehistory of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences Mesoamerica or Meso-America (Mesoamérica is a Region extending approximately from central Mexico to Honduras and Nicaragua, defined Amatl (āmatl amate or papel amate) is a form of Paper that was manufactured in Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. Whitewash, or calcimine, kalsomine, or calsomine is a very low cost type of Paint made from Slaked lime (calcium hydroxide and

In Asia, the scroll remained standard for far longer than in the West. The Jewish religion still retains the Torah scroll, at least for ceremonial use. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ term " Torah " ( Hebrew: תּוֹרָה "teaching" or "instruction" sometimes translated as "Law" most commonly refers to

Notable codices

Codices are usually named for their most famous resting-place, whether a city or a private library. N. B. : this is mostly a list of notable books that happen to have Codex in their usual name, as opposed to e. g. Gospels, Bible etc. Most of the books in the List of manuscripts and List of illuminated manuscripts are also codices. This is a list of famous Manuscripts. Annals and chronicles Annals of the Four Masters Annals of Boyle This is a list of Illuminated manuscripts 2nd century Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale, cod

The Chi Rho Monogram from the Book of Kells
The Chi Rho Monogram from the Book of Kells
The Nag Hammadi library is a collection of early Christian Gnostic texts discovered near the Egyptian town of Nag Hammadi in 1945.
The Nag Hammadi library is a collection of early Christian Gnostic texts discovered near the Egyptian town of Nag Hammadi in 1945. The Labarum (☧ was a military standard that displayed the first two Greek letters of the word " Christ " ( Greek: ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ or Χριστός The Book of Kells (Leabhar Cheanannais (Dublin Trinity College Library MS A Nag Hammadi library (popularly known as The Gnostic Gospels) is a collection of early Christian Gnostic texts discovered near the Early Christianity is commonly defined as the Christianity of the three centuries between the Crucifixion of Jesus ( c Gnosticism (γνώσις gnōsis, Knowledge) refers to a diverse Syncretistic Religious movement consisting of various Belief systems This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. Nag Hammadi ( Arabic نجع حمادي is a city in Upper Egypt.
A portion of the Codex Sinaiticus, containing Esther 2:3-8.
A portion of the Codex Sinaiticus, containing Esther 2:3-8. Codex Sinaiticus (Shelfmarks and references London Brit Libr, Additional 43725 Gregory - Aland nº א (Aleph or 01, Soden The Book of Esther is a book of the Tanakh ( Hebrew Bible) and of the Old Testament.

Notes

  1. ^ International Dunhuang Project - Several intermediate Chinese bookbinding forms from the C10th.
  2. ^ Turner The Typology of the Early Codex, U Penn 1977, and Roberts & Skeat The Birth of the Codex (Oxford University 1983). From Robert A Kraft (see link): "A fragment of a Latin parchment codex of an otherwise unknown historical text dating to about 100 CE was also found at Oxyrhynchus (POx 30; see Roberts & Skeat 28). Papyrus fragments of a "Treatise of the Empirical School" dated by its editor to the centuries 1-2 CE is also attested in the Berlin collection (inv. # 9015, Pack\2 # 2355) - Turner, Typology # 389, and Roberts & Skeat 71, call it a "medical manual. ""

See also

References

The Alchemyst book

External links

For further readings

Dictionary

codex

-noun

  1. an early manuscript book
  2. a book bound in the modern manner, by joining pages, as opposed to a rolled scroll
  3. an official list of medicines and medicinal ingredients
© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic