Abrogans Codex

Abrogans Codex

The Abrogans Codex is the oldest surviving book written in the German language, and one of only three surviving specimens from ca. 800 of a now-lost 8th century original. It is particularly important for containing the earliest version of the Lord’s Prayer written in Old High German as well as the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, which was adopted in 381 and is also translated into Old High German. Appearing on the last two pages of the manuscript, they are the third of three texts compiled in the manuscript. Written by the priest and historian Gennadius of Massilia (died c. 496), the second text concerns dogma and faith. The first and largest text, taking up the vast majority of the manuscript, is a 300-page-dictionary/thesaurus that explains the meaning of more difficult-to-understand Latin terms with synonyms in more common Latin and translates both terms into Old High German. It is a rich source for linguists that includes 700 words not found in any other Old High German text.