The Cologne Mani-Codex (Codex Manichaicus Coloniensis) is a tiny parchment
codex
The codex (: codices ) was the historical ancestor format of the modern book. Technically, the vast majority of modern books use the codex format of a stack of pages bound at one edge, along the side of the text. But the term ''codex'' is now r ...
, dated on
paleographical evidence to the fifth century AD, found near
Asyut (the ancient Lycopolis) in Egypt. Measuring 4.5 × 3.8 cm, the codex is the smallest ancient book yet discovered. It contains a
Greek text describing the life of
Mani, the founder of the religion
Manichaeism.
The codex became known via antique dealers in Cairo. It consisted of four deteriorated lumps of
vellum
Vellum is prepared animal skin or membrane, typically used as writing material. It is often distinguished from parchment, either by being made from calfskin (rather than the skin of other animals), or simply by being of a higher quality. Vellu ...
the size of a palm, and was in very poor condition. It was purchased for the Institut für Altertumskunde at the
University of Cologne in 1969, and two of its scientists, and
Ludwig Koenen, produced a first report (1970) and the
first edition of this ancient manuscript, hence known as the Cologne Mani-Codex, which they published in four articles in the ''Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik'' (1975–82). Many emendations and alternate readings were offered in the following decade, and it was found that some of the minute fragments associated with the codex could be successfully incorporated into the body of text. A second edition was published in 1988. Two symposia have been devoted to the codex, and their papers published: in
Rende (Calabria) (1984) and in
Cosenza
Cosenza (; Languages of Calabria#Northern Calabrian (Cosentian), Cosentian: ''Cusenza'', ) is a city located in Calabria, Italy. The city centre has a population of approximately 70,000, while the urban area counts more than 200,000 inhabitants. ...
(1988).
The text, which bears the ambiguous title ''On the Origin of His Body'', recounts Mani's introduction to the
Jewish-Christian Elkesaite baptising sect. Mani's teachings are revealed to him through his spiritual companion and celestial twin (his ''syzygos''). The Greek text bears traces that demonstrate it had been translated from an
Eastern Aramaic or
Old Syriac original. The ''
logoi'' of Mani himself are repeatedly cited. That it is a compilation from earlier texts is suggested by the names, apparently of teachers that head each section of the text.
[ Pages 110–14, noted in ''Encyclopædia Iranica''.]
See also
*
Medinet Madi library
The Medinet Madi library is a collection of Manichaean scripture, Manichaean texts discovered at Medinet Madi in the Faiyum Oasis, Faiyum region of Egypt in 1929. There is a total of seven codices, some of which have been split up and held in diffe ...
Notes
References
*''The Cologne Mani Codex'' (P. Colon. inv. nr. 4780) "Concerning the Origin of His Body". Edited and translated by Ron Cameron and Arthur J. Dewey. Society of Biblical Literature Texts and Translations Series 15. Missoula, MT: Scholars Press, 1979.University of Cologne, Papyrus Collection
''Der Kölner Mani-Kodex'' University of Cologne, Papyrus Collection ()
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5th-century books
5th-century manuscripts
Elcesaites
Manichaean texts
Texts in Koine Greek
Texts in Syriac