Beatus of Liébana - San Andrés de Arroyo Codex

The Book of Revelation, which is also known as the Apocalypse, is the last book of the New Testament. The story of the end of the world, of Judgement Day, of the sinners’ descent into hell, tremendously fascinated Christians from every land. A Spanish monk by the name of Beatus wrote a commentary on this book from the Bible, which was adapted over several centuries thereafter. The San Andrés de Arroyo Codex is a late edition of the manuscript by Beatus. The work originated from the beginning of the 13th century and with its 69 miniatures decorated with gold and silver, it is an especially beautifully illustrated edition.

Who Was Beatus?

Beatus of Liébana was a monk and theologian, who belonged to the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana in Spain. The monk is famous above all for his magnum opus, a commentary on the biblical Apocalypse in twelve books. These twelve books originate from ca. 776 and are known today as the Beatus-Series. The twelve books were adapted into countless manuscripts, many of which survive to this day. The majority of Beatus manuscripts originate from between the 10th and 12th centuries in northern Spain. Some more manuscripts were also produced after the heyday, the San Andrés de Arroyo Codex is one of them.

A Late Reception

The San Andrés de Arroyo Codex originates from ca. 1220 in the Monastery of San Pedro de Carden͂a in Spain. It was commissioned by King Ferdinand III of Castile. The Arroyo Codex is the newest of the Beatus manuscripts and contains a unique iconographic program. One of the work’s images shows a crowd of people on the Day of Judgement. The group is led by a royal couple and passes through the hell mouth. This type of picture was employed in the construction of Gothic church doors. The centuries-old tradition of the Beatus writings ended with the Arroya Codex.