Vaticanus

Vaticanus refers to Codex Vaticanus, one of the most important ancient manuscripts of the Greek Bible. Designated B in the Gregory-Aland system, it is housed in the Vatican Library in Vatican City. Paleographical analysis assigns its production to the early 4th century CE, with some scholars dating it to around 300–325 CE. The codex is written on parchment in uncial script and was produced in the eastern Mediterranean region, likely Egypt.

The manuscript originally contained a large portion of the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament) and the New Testament. The surviving text is largely complete for both testaments, though there are lacunae and damage in certain sections. Because of its age, quality, and scope, Vaticanus is considered a highly valuable witness to the Greek biblical text. In the New Testament, it is widely regarded as representing an Alexandrian text-type and has been a primary source for modern critical editions.

Codex Vaticanus has played a central role in biblical textual criticism since the Renaissance. Along with other ancient manuscripts, it informs scholarly reconstructions of the original wording of the Greek Bible and serves as a basis for major editions of the Greek text, including contemporary critical compilations. While its exact origin remains uncertain, most scholars attribute its production to the Mediterranean region, with the manuscript ultimately entering the holdings of the Vatican Library in the Renaissance era. Today it stands as one of the most studied and influential biblical manuscripts in existence.