Codex Purpureus Rossanensis
The Codex Purpureus Rossanensis is an ancient Greek evangeliary made from parchment dyed deep purple. The book contains nearly the entire Gospel of Matthew and most of the Gospel of Mark, and is decorated with 15 illustrations depicting scenes from the life of Jesus, written in gold and silver ink arranged in two columns per page.
The manuscript was likely produced in the 6th century in Syria, possibly in Antioch, and later came to Rossano with monks fleeing iconoclasm in the east. Rossano then became a center of Greek culture in Calabria, preserving the Greek language and liturgy for centuries, with the codex used in church services there.
The manuscript was central to Greek religious culture in Rossano for centuries. The purple pages and silver and gold lettering showed the reverence of the community, which used this book during Greek liturgy long after other regions of Italy had shifted to Latin.
The codex is preserved in the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art in Rossano and can be viewed there. Visitors should take time to carefully observe the delicate ancient pages and illustrations, as the manuscript is a fragile and precious object handled with care.
The book is one of the oldest known Greek manuscripts with illustrations depicting the life of Christ and was dyed with a rare purple dye derived from shellfish. This combination of ancient painting technique and precious material makes it an extraordinary witness to early Christian craftsmanship.
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