description Ashburnham Pentateuch Overview
The Ashburnham Pentateuch is a fragmentary illuminated Latin manuscript containing portions of the first five books of the Bible. It was produced in the 6th or 7th century, although scholars have debated whether its place of origin was North Africa, Spain, or another region of the early medieval Mediterranean world. Its surviving narrative miniatures present biblical episodes in broad horizontal compositions, and the manuscript is held by the Bibliotheque nationale de France.
help Ashburnham Pentateuch FAQ
Why is the Ashburnham Pentateuch also called the Tours Pentateuch?
The manuscript was kept for centuries at the library in Tours before it was stolen and entered the collection of Lord Ashburnham. It is therefore known both by its later owner and by the French city associated with its documented history.
Which books survive in the Ashburnham Pentateuch?
It preserves incomplete portions of the Latin Pentateuch, the biblical books from Genesis through Deuteronomy. Missing leaves and damaged sections mean it is not a complete copy of all five books.
Where was the Ashburnham Pentateuch made?
Its origin remains disputed, with proposals including North Africa, Spain, Italy, and other parts of the early medieval Mediterranean world. The manuscript is usually dated to the 6th or 7th century on paleographic and artistic grounds.
Where is the manuscript kept now?
It is preserved in the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris under the shelf mark Nouvelles acquisitions latines 2334. Its large narrative illustrations make it one of the most important surviving early illuminated biblical manuscripts.
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