The Truth Behind Season 1 Episode 15 The Devil's Bible

The Truth Behind season 1 episode 15 - The Devil's Bible explores one of the most mysterious ancient texts in human history, the Codex Gigas, also known as the Devil's Bible. The book, written in the medieval period, is believed to have supernatural powers and is full of legends and stories that generate terror and excitement.

The episode opens with the narrator introducing the audience to the Codex Gigas and its origins. The book was created by a monk in the Benedictine monastery of Podlažice, Bohemia, in the 13th century. It is said that he wrote the book to avoid a harsh punishment for breaking his monastic vows. He vowed to complete the book in one night, and according to the legend, he summoned the devil's help to get it done.

The script provides a brief history of the book and its journey from monastery to monastery until it reaches the National Library of Sweden, its current location. Codex Gigas has been through fire, flood, and war, but it has survived.

The narrator, through interviews with experts, explains the various aspects of the Codex Gigas, such as its size, weight, and appearance. The book is bound in leather and weighs around 165 pounds. It measures almost 3 feet long and 20 inches wide when opened, making it the largest medieval manuscript in the world.

Furthermore, the narrator delves into the contents of the book. The manuscript comprises 620 pages, divided into five parts. It has a theological section, featuring the Bible alongside other religious texts, including a treatise on exorcism, an encyclopedia of medicine, and a chronicle of Bohemia. Besides, the book features an incredibly detailed portrait of the devil, giving it the name 'The Devil's Bible'.

The episode explores the dark mythology surrounding the Codex Gigas, which claims that the book was cursed. The legend states that the monk who wrote it made a pact with the devil to finish the book in one night. He, however, reneged on the deal, and so, the devil cursed the book, causing it to emit strange sounds and cause calamities wherever it went. Consequently, the Codex Gigas remained locked in the monastery for centuries.

The narrator discusses several hypotheses regarding the book's history and the origin of the legend. Experts suggest that the legend may have been propagated as a marketing scheme, intended to attract people to visit the monastery. Others propose that the monk who wrote the book had access to other texts and scrolls, which may have left an indelible impression on him, leading to the inclusion of the fearsome depictions of the devil in the book.

The episode also follows the efforts of modern-day scientists to decipher the mystery of the Codex Gigas. A team of forensic specialists uses cutting-edge technology to analyze the book's ink. They discover that it is of animal origin, probably from cow's or deer's skin, which would have been common for manuscripts of that time. They also conclude that it was written solely by one person, adding credibility to the legend of the monk writing the book in one night.

The show concludes by reinforcing the idea that the Codex Gigas remains one of the most enigmatic and intriguing manuscripts in human history. Despite the advancements in technology and science, the book continues to generate excitement and awe in people who study it. While the legend of the monk's unholy pact with the devil remains just a myth, the Codex Gigas' incredible size and content undoubtedly make it one of the most significant works of human history.

In conclusion, the episode delves deep into the history and mythology surrounding the Codex Gigas, providing an overview of the manuscript's contents, its origins, and its journey through the ages. The expert interviews and cutting-edge forensic analysis of the book's ink provide valuable insights into the manuscript's creation, while the book's intense mystique and the legend of its curse add a sense of intrigue and excitement to the narrative. The episode is a must-watch for history buffs and anyone with an interest in ancient mythology and supernatural stories.