Vienna Genesis

The Vienna Genesis (Vienna, Austrian National Library, cod. theol. gr. 31), designated by siglum L (Ralphs), is an illuminated manuscript, probably produced in Syria in the first half of the 6th century. It is one of the oldest well-preserved, surviving, illustrated biblical codices; only the Garima Gospels of Ethiopia, dating to the 5th and 6th centuries, are as old or older. The surviving text is part of the Book of Genesis in the Greek Septuagint translation. The text is frequently abbreviated. There are twenty-four surviving folios, each with miniatures at the bottom of both sides. It is thought that there were originally about ninety-six folios and 192 illustrations. The book is written in uncials with silver ink on calfskin dyed a rich purple, placing it very firmly in the category of luxury manuscripts. The Vienna Genesis relates to the Rossano Gospels and the Sinope Gospels, from roughly the same period.

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