Commentary on the Apocalypse (Commentaria in Apocalypsin) is a book written in the eighth century by the Spanish monk and theologian Beatus of Liébana (730–785) and copied and illustrated in manuscript in works called "Beati" during the 10th and 11th centuries AD.[1] It is a commentary on the New Testament Apocalypse of John or Book of Revelation. It also refers to any manuscript copy of this work, especially any of the 27 illuminated copies that have survived. It is often referred to simply as the Beatus. The historical significance of the Commentary is made even more pronounced since it included a world map, which offers a rare insight into the geographical understanding of the post-Roman world. Well-known copies include the Morgan, the Saint-Sever, the Gerona, the Osma and the Madrid (Vitr 14-1) Beatus codices.
Considered together, the Beatus codices are among the most important Spanish manuscripts and have been the subject of extensive scholarly and antiquarian enquiry. The illuminated versions now represent the best known works of Mozarabic art, and had some influence on the medieval art of the rest of Europe.
The work consists of several prologues (which differ among the manuscripts) and one long summary section (the "Summa Dicendum") before the first book, an introduction to the second book, and 12 books of commentary, some long and some very short. Beatus states in its dedication to his friend Bishop Etherius that it is meant to educate his brother monks.
The work is structured around selections from previous Apocalypse commentaries and references by Ticonius (now mostly lost), St. Primasius of Hadrumetum, St. Caesarius of Arles, St. Apringius of Beja, and many others. There are also long extracts from the texts of the Fathers of the Church and Doctors of the Church, especially Augustine of Hippo, Ambrose of Milan, Irenaeus of Lyons, Pope Gregory I, Saint Jerome of Stridon, and Isidore of Seville. Some manuscripts add commentaries on the books of Ezekiel and Daniel by other authors, genealogical tables, and the like, but these are not strictly part of the Beatus.
The creative character of the Commentary comes from Beatus' writing of a wide-ranging catena of verses from nearly every book of the Bible, quotes of patristic commentary from many little known sources, and interstitial original comments by Beatus. His attitude is one of realism about church politics and human pettiness, hope and love towards everyday life even when it is difficult, and many homely similes from his own time and place. (For example, he compares evangelization to lighting fires for survival when caught far from home by a sudden mountain blizzard, and the Church to a Visigothic army with both generals and muleskinners.) His work is also a fruitful source for Spanish linguistics, as Beatus often alters words in his African Latin sources to the preferred synonyms in Hispanic Latin.
The Kingdom of Toledo fell in 711, leaving most of the Iberian Peninsula in the hands of Muslim conquerors.[2] Christians under Pelayo managed to establish one kingdom on the northern coast, protected by the Cantabrian Mountains.[2] Beautus lived in the Cantabrian valley of Liébana.[2] With the recent conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, the Apocalypse and the symbolism in it took on a different meaning. The beast, which had previously been believed to represent the Roman Empire, now became the Caliphate, and Babylon was no longer Rome, but Córdoba.
In continuity with previous commentaries written in the Tyconian tradition, and in continuity with St. Isidore of Seville and St. Apringius of Beja from just a few centuries before him, Beatus' Commentary on the Apocalypse focuses on the sinless beauty of the eternal Church, and on the tares growing among the wheat in the Church on Earth. Persecution from outside forces like pagan kings and heretics is mentioned, but it is persecution from fellow members of the Church that Beatus spends hundreds of pages on. Anything critical of the Jews in the Bible is specifically said to have contemporary effect as a criticism of Christians, and particularly of monks and other religious, and a good deal of what is said about pagans is stated as meant as a criticism of Christians who worship their own interests more than God. Muslims are barely mentioned, except as references to Christian heresies include them. Revelation is a book about the Church's problems throughout all ages, not about history per se. In the middle of Book 4 of 12, Beatus does state his guess about the end-date of the world (801 AD, from the number of the Holy Spirit plus Alpha, as well as a few other calculations) although he warns people that it is folly to try to guess a date that even Jesus in the Bible claimed not to know.[3][4][5][6][7]
There are 35 surviving copies, 27 of which are illustrated below:[8][9]
Date finished | Manuscript ID | Names known as | Current repository | Other information | Links to image archives | Example image | Illustrator |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
9th century AD | unknown | Nájera fragment | unknown | Probably associated with the abbey of Santo Domingo de Silos | Unknown | ||
Circa 920–930[1] | Ms. 33 | Beatus of San Millán de la Cogolla.[1] | Real Academia de la Historia, Madrid | * Ms. 33 Beato de San Millan de la Cogolla. *Ms. 33 Beato de San Millan de la Cogolla. (Select images) *Ms. 33 (black and white images) |
Unknown | ||
Middle of the 10th century. Alternative dates include the end of the 9th century, 920–930 and 925–935.[10] | Ms. Vit. 14.1 | *Beati in Apocalipsin libri duodecim. *Emilianense Codice *Beatus of San Millán) *Beatus of Liébana - Emilianense Codex[10]) |
Kept at Biblioteca Nacional, Madrid.[10] | Vit. 14-1 Beati in Apocalipsin libri duodecim. (Emilianenses Codice) | |||
Circa 950–955 | Ms. Cod. & II.5 | *Escorial Beatus of San Millán *Beatus of the monastery of the Escorial[1]) |
El Escorial, Real Biblioteca de San Lorenzo | 225 x 355 mm. 151 leaves; 52 miniatures.[11] | *Ms. Cod. & II.5 Escorial Beatus of San Millán. | Unknown | |
Circa 960[1] | Ms 644 | *Morgan Beatus *Beatus of San Miguel de Escalada *Beatus of the Magius[1]) |
Morgan Library (New York) | 280 x 380 mm. 89 miniatures. Some reproductions have name Pierpont attached for the Pierpont Morgan Library. | *Ms 644 Morgan Beatus. Click on image to access all pages. | Illustrated by Magius, archipictor.[12] | |
Circa 968–970[13] | AHN CODICES, L.1097 | Beatus of Tábara.[13] | Archivo Histórico Nacional | Mostly un-illustrated but some large images. | *Ms 1097 B Beatus of San Salvador de Távara. Click on image to access all pages. * AHN CODICES,L.1097 Beatus of Tábara |
Magius (finished by his apprentice Emeterio at the Monastery of Tábara, Zamora.[13]) | |
Circa 970[1] | Ms. 433 (ex ms 390) |
Beatus of Valcavado.[1] | Valladolid. Biblioteca de la Universidad | 97 miniatures extant | *Ms. 433 Beatus of Valcavado Click on image to access all pages. | Painted by Oveco for the abbot Semporius. | |
Circa 975[1] | Ms. 7 | *Gerona Beatus Beatus of Gerona[1] Beatus of Távara |
Held at the Cathedral of Girona. Archives. | 260 x 400 mm. 280 leaves. 160 miniatures | Ms. 7 Gerona Beatus (Girona Beatus) Click on image to access all pages. | Painted by Emeterius (pupil of Magius) and by the nun Ende.[14] | |
Circa 975 | Ms. 26 | *Beatus of La Seu d'Urgell.[15] *Urgell Beatus of Rioja or León *Beatus of the Cathedral of Urgell[1]) |
Held at the archives of the Cathedral of La Seu d'Urgell | 90 miniatures | *Ms. 26 Urgell Beatus. Click on image to access all pages. | Illustrator unknown | |
1047[1] | Ms. Vit. 14.2 | *Beatus of Liébana *Beatus of León *Beatus of Facundo[1] *Beato of Facundus *Beatos de la Biblioteca Nacional de España[16] Beato de Fernando I y doña Sancha[16] |
Held at Biblioteca Nacional, Madrid. | Made for Ferdinand I and Queen Sancha. 267 x 361 mm. 312 leaves. 98 miniatures. | *VITR 14.2 (pdf)Beato of Liébana: Codice of Fernando I and Dña. Sancha. (Facundo/Facundus) | Illustrated by Facundo/Facundus[17][18] | |
Circa 1086[19] | Cod. 1 | *Beatus of Burgo of Osma.[19] *Beatus of Liébana - Burgo de Osma Codex |
Kept at the library of the Cathedral of Burgo de Osma. | 225 x 360 mm. 166 folios. 71 thumbnails. | Scribe: Petrus. Painter: Martinus.[20] | ||
1091–1109 | Add MS 11695[21] | *Beatus of Santo Domingo de Silos | London. British Library | * Add MS 11695 British Library access to Beatus of Santo Domingo de Silos. * Add MS 11695 Beatus of Santo Domingo de Silos. Click on image to access all pages. |
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The Commentary on the Apocalypse strongly influenced the Guernica of Picasso.[36][37][38][39][40]
Thirty-five manuscript copies dating from the ninth century to the 13th century have survived. By semantic extension, these manuscripts are called beato, and 26 of them are illuminated.
il en existerait actuellement 34 datés du IXe au XVIe siècle, complets ou fragmentaires, dont 26 sont illustrés (voir J. Williams).Le Commentaire de Beatus connut une grande diffusion et l'appellation Beatus désigne un manuscrit contenant ce texte; il en existerait actuellement 34 datés du IXe au XVIe siècle, complets ou fragmentaires, dont 26 sont illustrés (voir J. Williams). Ce manuscrit de Genève constituerait un 27e Beatus illustré. [Translation]: The Commentary of Beatus enjoyed great diffusion and naming Beatus means a manuscript containing the text; it currently exists 34 dated from the ninth to the sixteenth century, complete or fragmentary, 26 of which are illustrated (see J. Williams). This manuscript of Geneva would be a 27th Beatus shown.
It has been dated to the first half of 10th century, around 920–930 (W.Neuss); P.Klein set it between 925 and 935 and José Camón Aznar, at the end of 9th century. Other authors, however, date it later, considering their miniatures part of the "mature mozarab" style.
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... there is now hitherto unreported evidence that illustrated manuscripts of the Beatus Commentary written in Beneventan script were copied in southern Italy in the middle of the eleventh century. This evidence comes in a damaged fragment from an illustrated Beatus manuscript used to reinforce the binding of a volume of notarial records... Beneventan Beatus fragment in Milan binding (left), Milan, Archivio di Stato Rubriche Notarili 3823, fol. 2v