Royal Prayer Book facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Royal Prayer Book |
|
|---|---|
| British Library, Royal MS 2 A XX | |
| Type | Prayer book |
| Date | c.800–c.825 |
| Place of origin | England, S. (Mercia) |
| Language(s) | Latin |
| Material | Parchment, ink, paint |
| Size | 230 × 170 (180 × 130) mm |
| Script | Insular minuscule |
| Contents | Prayers; the apocryphal letter of Christ to Abgar; Gospel readings |
| Illumination(s) | 2 zoomorphic initials in gold, silver, colours. Smaller initials with colours and red dots. Marginal drawings. |
| Additions | Interlinear glosses and marginal notes in Old English |
| Other | Member of the Southumbrian 'Tiberius Group' |
The Royal Prayer Book is a very old collection of prayers. It is kept safe at the British Library in London. Experts believe it was copied around 800 to 825 AD. This was a long time ago, over 1200 years! It was created in a part of England called Mercia, probably near the city of Worcester.
This special book is one of four early Anglo-Saxon prayer books. The others are the Book of Cerne, the Harley Prayer Book, and the Book of Nunnaminster. These books are all connected through their texts. The prayers are mostly in Latin, but some parts also use Old English and even a little Greek.
What is the Royal Prayer Book About?
The main idea of the Royal Prayer Book seems to be about Christ as a healer. It talks a lot about physical healing. This makes some people think it might have been used by a doctor. It could have been a helpful tool for both prayer and practical healing.
What Unique Words Does It Contain?
On one of its pages (folio 45v), the Royal Prayer Book has something very interesting. It seems to be the first time the word "elf" appears in a written book in any Germanic language. This shows how old the word is!
How Does It Help Us Learn About Old English?
The book also has detailed notes written in Old English. These notes were added around the 10th century. They are written in the Mercian dialect of Old English. These notes, called glosses, help us understand how people spoke and wrote Old English long ago.
