Durham Liber Vitae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Durham Liber Vitae |
|
|---|---|
| London, British Library, MS Cotton Domitian vii | |
| Type | liber vitae, confraternity book |
| Date | 9th century, with additions being made until c. 1300 and, to a lesser extent, also at later dates |
| Place of origin | Northumbria |
| Scribe(s) | multiple |
| Material | parchment |
| Size | 205 x 142 mm |
| Condition | original binding lost, some damage over time |
| Script | various |
| Additions | names of benefactors and visitors |
The Durham Liber Vitae is a very old and special book from the Middle Ages. It was made in north-eastern England. This book is like a guestbook for important churches. It lists the names of people who visited the church in Durham, and older churches before that, like those in Lindisfarne and Chester-le-Street. It's the oldest book of its kind in England!
Contents
What is a Liber Vitae?
A Liber Vitae (which means "Book of Life" in Latin) is a special type of book. It was used in monasteries and churches during the Middle Ages. These books recorded the names of people who were important to the church. This included monks, kings, queens, and other visitors.
The names were added so that the church community could pray for them. It was a way to remember people who supported the church. The Durham Liber Vitae is a great example of this kind of book.
The Oldest Part of the Book
The very first part of the Durham Liber Vitae was written in the 9th century. That's over 1,100 years ago! People believe it was made at the church in Lindisfarne. Lindisfarne was a very important religious place back then.
This old part of the book was made from parchment. Parchment is like paper, but it's made from animal skin. It was very strong and lasted a long time. The book had blank spaces for more names to be added later. Over time, the book got a bit damaged. Its original cover is now gone.
How the Book Grew Over Time
Even though the book started in the 9th century, people kept adding to it. New names were written in the 10th century and even later. This shows that the book was used for a very long time.
By the late 11th century, the book was being kept in Durham. This is known because a list of monks from Durham was added. These additions helped keep the book updated.
Later Changes to the Book
Around the 12th century, the book was organized again. Some of the very old names might have been lost during this time. But the book continued to be used. New names were added regularly.
After the year 1300, fewer new names were added to the oldest parts of the book. However, the book remained an important record.
Where is the Book Now?
Today, the Durham Liber Vitae is kept safe in the British Library in London. It is a valuable historical treasure. The book is about 20.5 centimeters (8 inches) tall and 14.2 centimeters (5.6 inches) wide. It helps us learn about the people and churches of medieval England.
