Throughout the course of history mankind has written a lot of books. Today, we have over one hundred and thirty million books. Great right? But some of these books are forbidden, or mysterious. Some are extremely ancient, or even predict the future. In this post we're looking at a list of books you may not actually want to read!
1. The Book of SoygaÂ
The Book of Soyga, also known as Aldaraia, is a medieval text believed to be a treatise on magic and the occult, written in a ciphered language. Its authorship is attributed to John Dee, an Elizabethan scholar, and occultist, but this has not been definitively proven. The book consists of several sections, including a list of angels, invocations, and a treatise on the nature of magic. It has been difficult for scholars to decipher due to its complex cipher. Despite its mysterious nature, the Book of Soyga remains a fascinating artifact of medieval magic and a subject of ongoing study for scholars of esotericism and occultism.
2. The Prophecies of NostradamusÂ
The Prophecies of Nostradamus is a book of prophetic verses and quatrains written by Michel de Nostradamus, a French physician, and astrologer in the 16th century. The book contains predictions of future events, including natural disasters and political upheavals, and Nostradamus claimed his prophecies were based on divine inspiration and his own observations of the stars and planetary movements. Despite controversy and skepticism, his quatrains have been translated into many languages and continue to fascinate readers worldwide, with many still studying his writings to unlock the secrets of his prophecies. The Prophecies of Nostradamus are one of the most famous and enduring examples of prophetic literature.
3. The Ripley Scroll
The Ripley Scroll is an important alchemical work from the 15th century, known for its intricate illustrations and detailed instructions on creating the Philosopher's Stone. The facsimile edition allows for a detailed examination of the entire scroll and includes expert interpretation and transcription of the text to help readers understand the complex symbolism and alchemical processes depicted. It is a fascinating and informative work that will captivate and inspire both scholars of alchemy and curious readers.
4. The Beale CiphersÂ
The Beale Ciphers are three encrypted messages that supposedly lead to a buried treasure worth over $63 million. They were created by Thomas Beale in the 19th century and given to a friend for safekeeping. The first cipher was cracked, but the other two remain unsolved. The ciphers use a book cipher system and have attracted many attempts at deciphering them. Despite claims of treasure discovery, no solid evidence has been found, making the Beale Ciphers a popular subject of interest among enthusiasts of unsolved mysteries.
5. The Voynich Manuscript
The Voynich manuscript is a handwritten book filled with illustrations of plants, astrological symbols, and human figures, among other things. Its origin dates back to the early 15th century and is named after Wilfrid Voynich, the book dealer who acquired it in 1912. The manuscript is divided into six sections and is written in an unknown script that has never been deciphered despite many attempts. Some experts consider it a hoax, while others believe it may be a coded message from an unknown author. Many theories have been proposed regarding its meaning and purpose, including medical, alchemical, religious, and philosophical texts. Despite its unknown origin and content, the Voynich manuscript has captured the interest of scholars and the public as one of the most intriguing and mysterious manuscripts in history.
6. The Dead Sea ScrollsÂ
The Dead Sea Scrolls are a collection of ancient Jewish texts discovered in the 20th century near the Dead Sea. They were found in eleven caves near the settlement of Qumran, and include biblical and non-biblical Jewish texts, as well as insights into the beliefs and practices of a Jewish sect. The scrolls shed light on the history and development of Judaism and early Christianity in the Second Temple period and have had a significant impact on the study of ancient biblical manuscripts. They are now housed in various institutions and have been widely studied by scholars and popularized in books and films.
7. The Liber LinteusÂ
The Liber Linteus is an ancient Etruscan text that was discovered in the late 19th century in a tomb near the Croatian city of Zagreb. It is believed to date from the 3rd century BCE and is one of the longest surviving Etruscan texts. The text appears to be a ritual calendar or liturgical text, possibly related to a particular religious cult. It is written in the Etruscan language and uses a form of the Etruscan alphabet. Although many parts of the text are missing, the discovery of the Liber Linteus has provided valuable insights into the culture and language of the ancient Etruscans, a civilization that thrived in central Italy before the rise of the Roman Empire.
8. The Gigas Codex
The Codex Gigas is a well-known medieval manuscript that is remarkable for its size and contents. It was created in the early 13th century, possibly in a Benedictine monastery in Bohemia. The manuscript is massive, weighing around 165 pounds and measuring 36 inches tall, 20 inches wide, and nearly 9 inches thick. It contains 310 pages made of calfskin and written in Latin. One of the most notable features of the manuscript is a full-page illustration of the devil, which has led to it being nicknamed the “Devil's Bible.”
More that Just a Bible
The Codex Gigas includes various texts, such as the entire Bible in Latin, as well as other historical, medical, and magical works. The Chronicle of Bohemia is a prominent text in the manuscript, containing an extensive history of the region up to the 12th century. Today, the Codex Gigas is housed in the National Library of Sweden in Stockholm, where it remains one of the most significant and valuable manuscripts from the medieval era.
From medieval texts on magic and prophecy to ancient manuscripts written in unknown scripts, these books continue to captivate scholars and curious readers alike. While some of them may be difficult to understand or even potentially dangerous, they offer a glimpse into the history, beliefs, and knowledge of past civilizations and cultures.
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