Sensational discovery: 900-year-old codex fragments found at Budapest university library
Fragments of a 900-year-old codex, containing passages from Saint Ambrose’s commentary on the Gospel, have been discovered in one of the libraries of Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME). The fragments were found concealed beneath the spine binding of a 19th-century architectural treatise in the library of the Department of Architectural History and Monument Protection.
900-year-old unknown codex fragments
A staff member at the BME Department of Architectural History and Monument Protection library, Mária Leitgéb, uncovered five 12th-century codex fragments hidden within a book’s spine, the university announced to MTI on Monday.
The spine binding of the second volume of Les plus beaux édifices de la ville de Gênes et de ses environs, published in 1818 and written by Martin Pierre Gauthier (1790–1855), had partially come loose, revealing strips of the codex fragments.
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Gábor Sarbak and Fanni Hende, researchers from the HUN-REN–OSZK Fragmenta et Codices Research Group based at the National Széchényi Library within the Hungarian National Museum’s Collection Centre, examined the fragments and confirmed that they contain excerpts from Saint Ambrose’s commentary on the Gospel of Saint Luke.
An adventurous history
Based on the script visible on the fragments, the original parchment codex dates back to the 12th century, with the five strips together forming a single leaf. French bookbinders in the 19th century likely glued these parchment pieces to the book’s spine after cutting them both widthwise and lengthwise. The durable parchment was used to reinforce and protect the spine beneath the cover.
The library of the Department of Architectural History and Monument Protection, which has safeguarded documents for over 160 years and serves as the specialist book collection for architectural education at the university, stands out as a unique and exceptional specialist library even on a national level.
Its collection, comprising more than 23,000 book volumes and 3,000 journal volumes, includes not only current specialist literature but also a valuable historical section. This includes museum-quality documents, particularly works representing 16th- to 18th-century architectural literature.
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Who did the Medieval fragments belong to?
According to inventory records, the host volume arrived at the departmental library in 1962. However, this date is not definitive, as collections from predecessor departments of architectural history and their libraries were re-catalogued following their merger.
Earlier records are no longer available, but based on inscriptions and ownership stamps found in the book, it is presumed that it previously belonged to the architect Antal Wéber. The volume likely arrived at the university in the 1880s, at the Department of Dry, Applied and Ornamental Architecture led by Alajos Hauszmann, where it has remained ever since.
Photo: bme.hu
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Careful removal and restoration of the fragments from the host volume could allow for more detailed analysis, including their original placement on a reconstructed parchment folio based on a modern critical edition.
The intention is for the fragments to remain at the university even after detachment, with the library providing ideal conditions for their preservation. Detachment and preparation for proper storage will require dedicated funding, which the university plans to secure through grant applications.