Oldest surviving English poem in history discovered in manuscript in Roman library
Researchers have discovered the oldest surviving English poem, 'Caedmon's Hymn,' in a medieval manuscript located in a Roman library. This poem, composed in the 7th century, was found within the main body of a Latin text by the Venerable Bede. The discovery highlights the early significance of the English language, predating previous known copies by three centuries.
- ▪The poem was composed by a Northumbrian agricultural worker in the 7th century.
- ▪It was found in a manuscript dating from the 9th century, which is one of the oldest known copies.
- ▪Prior to this discovery, the earliest known copy of the poem was from the early 12th century.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
World News Oldest surviving English poem in history discovered in manuscript in Roman library By Associated Press Published May 17, 2026, 4:42 p.m. ET ROME — The researchers in Ireland looked at their computer screen, marveling at a medieval book tracked down in a Roman library. They flipped through its digitized pages and found their sought-after treasure: the oldest surviving English poem. “We were extremely surprised. We were speechless. We couldn’t believe our eyes when we first saw that,” Elisabetta Magnanti, a visiting research fellow at Trinity College Dublin’s school of English, told The Associated Press.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at New York Post.
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