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I was interested to read in today's Guardian that the Pope has lent the British Library, for an upcoming exhibition, the national treasure known as the Codex Amiatinus. Otherwise a large Bible manufactured in Northumberland from the skins of more than 500 calves, more than 1,000 years ago.

Given that us rank and file will only be able to see a couple of pages in the book, which will no doubt be displayed in a very sturdy glass case, and we will certainly not be allowed to handle the book or turn the pages, I wonder what the value-add is. Over and above, that is, the sort of value-add one gets from going to touch the jewelled box containing some saintly (or otherwise holy) relic. Do old, full-size Bibles qualify as relics? I seem to remember that in the other two Abrahamic religions, old, miniature Bibles (or their local equivalents) do so qualify and are often worn in the way of jewellery.

This codex rates a handy summary at reference 1 and an online facsimile at reference 2, from which the snap left of page 8 right is taken. No idea what it might be about, beyond being reminded of the soldiers' shields sewn into the Bayeux Tapestry. What more could one possibly want?

PS: will the RSPCA be apologising on our behalf to the WCC (World Cow Council) for this 1,000 year old outrage?

Reference 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codex_Amiatinus.

Reference 2: https://www.wdl.org/en/item/20150/. Seemingly part of the Library of Congress in Washington.