Medicina Antiqua: Vienna, Oesterreichische Nationalbibliothek, Cod. Vind. 93 (Manuscripts in Miniature)

One of the most admired medical books of the Middle Ages, Medicina Antiqua is a compendium of popular Late Antique texts brought together in the 6th century. It contains writings on herbs and materia medica by authors heavily reliant on the works of Pliny and Dioscorides. Of the 50 surviving copies of this influential miscellany produced before the end of the Middle Ages, the present manuscripts is one of the most enticing. Executed in Southern Italy in the firt half of the 13th century, it is beautiful illustrated in vibrant body colour with plants, animals and scenes of medical treatments, faithfully drawn after late antique models. The facsimile of the complete manuscript is followed by an essay which sets the manuscript in the context of the history of medicine. Codicological information is also provided and all plants and animals are identified.