Codexes

A codex is an ancient manuscript book. It typically consists of written or illustrated sheets of parchment, vellum, papyrus, or paper, bound together along one edge within covers. The codex form gradually replaced the scroll in the Roman world and other cultures that adopted the bookbinding technology.

The transition from scroll to codex began in the 1st century AD and became widespread by the 4th century AD. This change was significant because codices were generally more convenient to use. They could be opened to any page easily, unlike scrolls which had to be unrolled and re-rolled. They could also contain more text than a scroll of comparable size, and were more durable.

Early codices were often used for religious texts, particularly the Bible. Many surviving ancient manuscripts are in codex form. The development of the codex is considered a crucial step in the history of the book and the dissemination of knowledge.

The word "codex" comes from the Latin codex, meaning "trunk of a tree," which was used for the earliest written tablets. While the term is primarily associated with ancient manuscripts, it can also refer to any collection of laws or ancient texts, such as the Codex Justinianus or the Codex Hammurabi, though these are usually collections of laws rather than bound books. In modern times, "codex" is sometimes used colloquially to refer to a rare or important manuscript, regardless of its format.