One book at the National Library of Sweden stands out among the rest: the Codex Gigas. Bound in wood, consisting of 620 pages that are each nearly three feet long, and weighing in at 165 pounds, it is quite a hefty tome. But it’s not the size of the Codex Gigas that is its most intriguing feature. It’s the devil inside.
The manuscript contains the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, as well as an assortment of other texts that tackle everything from practical instructions for exorcisms to seventh-century grammar tips.
How did this book ever get written? Legend tells of a monk who was walled up in a monastery as punishment for his wickedness. In an effort to atone, the monk resolved to write the world’s biggest book in one night. To do so, he naturally required the help of the devil, with whom he is said to have made a pact.
In exchange for enhanced overnight productivity, all the monk had to do was paint a full-page portrait of Beelzebub in the Codex and hand over his mortal soul.
You definitely won’t find this book in your local library! Read the entire article at Atlas Obscura…