The leaf was found in 1970 during the renovation of St. Afra's Chapel in Speyer Cathedral. It follows on seamlessly from the last leaf of the silver Bible preserved in Uppsala, which breaks off in the middle of the Gospel of Mark 16:12 with the words "Afaruh þan þata ...". The Speyer fragment continues the text with "twaim ize ataugiþs warþ in anþaramma farwa, gaggandam du  wehsa". (Translation: Afterwards he revealed himself in a different form to two of them on the way, as they went into the field).

This Speyer leaf is particularly interesting from a lexicographical and linguistic-historical point of view because it contains the long-lost evidence of the Gothic word for "color". Jacob Grimm had written in the corresponding article of the German Dictionary in 1863: "the gothic word [for color] would be of importance to hear, in the new test. it does not occur, from the old one would learn it, namely from Ez. 23, 14. weish. Sal. 13, 14. Sir. 43, 12. 50, 8." In this passage of Mark's Gospel, however, it is used unexpectedly metaphorically when it is reported that Jesus was resurrected "in another form" (in anþaramma farwa).

After a four-hour train ride, we visited the depot of the Historical Museum of the Palatinate in the Old Cotton Mill, where the fragment is currently kept for conservational reasons. The curator, Ms. Sabine Kaufmann, and the museum's restorer were able to give us some very interesting background information. Among other things, the leaf was originally wrapped in a sheet of paper addressed to Philipp Melanchthon. We were also able to see the worm damage to the leaf (see photo!), which corresponds exactly with the leaves from Uppsala. The museum staff took a lot of time for us and our questions and we were allowed to look at the fragment up close and even take photos.

We then went to Speyer Cathedral to see the place where the manuscript was walled in from 1859 to 1970 in St. Afra's Chapel. 

We had to start our return journey at 5 p.m., and even though the four-hour journey took a little longer, we have fond memories of this excursion.

Photos (C) Stefanie Flaum