Cologne Mani-Codex
5th century Manichean manuscript
The Cologne Mani-Codex (Codex Manichaicus Coloniensis) is a tiny parchment codex, dated on paleographical evidence to the fifth century AD, found near Asyut (the ancient Lycopolis) in Egypt. Measuring 4.5 × 3.8 cm, the codex is the smallest ancient book yet discovered. It contains a Greek text describing the life of Mani, the founder of the religion Manichaeism.
The codex became known via antique dealers in Cairo. It consisted of four deteriorated lumps of vellum the size of a palm, and was in very poor condition. It was purchased for the Institut für Altertumskunde at the University of Cologne in 1969, and two of its scientists, Albert Henrichs and Ludwig Koenen, produced a first report (1970) and the first edition of this ancient manuscript, hence known as the Cologne Mani-Codex, which they published in four articles in the Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik (1975–82). Many emendations and alternate readings were offered in the following decade, and it was found that some of the minute fragments associated with the codex could be successfully incorporated into the body of text. A second edition was published in 1988. Two symposia have been devoted to the codex, and their papers published: in Rende (Calabria) (1984) and in Cosenza (1988).
The text, which bears the ambiguous title On the Origin of His Body, recounts Mani's introduction to the Jewish-Christian Elkesaite baptising sect.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Cologne Mani-Codex” is 5th century Manichean manuscript. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Cologne, Mani-Codex and century, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “5th century Manichean manuscript” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
Attribution, date and provenance are strongest when supported by the original work, a catalogue record and documented transmission. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jan 18, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q657420. None of the 1 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1969, 1970, 1975 and 1988.
Rights, attribution and provenance may remain disputed even when a general reference summary presents a stable account. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Separate the work, its editions or performances, and its later reception. Catalogue records, publication histories and object files often preserve different parts of that story.
- Identifying works and editions
- Tracing reception history
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The original object or edition, catalogue raisonné, performance record, rights file and holding institution.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Cologne Mani-Codex”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Cologne Mani-Codex primary sources, Cologne Mani-Codex archive and Cologne research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Cologne Mani-Codex”?
- Which edition, object, performance or recording is being described?
- Where is authorship, date or provenance documented?
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This entry incorporates text from “Cologne Mani-Codex” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.