Researchers stunned by forgotten medieval book in Rome hiding the oldest English poem
Researchers from Trinity College Dublin discovered a 9th-century manuscript in Rome's National Central Library containing the oldest known copy of 'Caedmon’s Hymn,' the earliest surviving English poem. Unlike earlier versions, this copy is embedded within the main Latin text of Bede's 'Ecclesiastical History of the English People,' indicating early recognition of the poem's significance. The manuscript had a complex journey, passing through monasteries, private collectors, and across continents before resurfacing in Rome.
- ▪The manuscript containing 'Caedmon’s Hymn' dates to the 9th century, making it three centuries older than the previous earliest known version.
- ▪This is the first time the Old English poem appears within the main body of Bede's text, rather than in margins or as an addition.
- ▪The manuscript was originally transcribed at the Benedictine abbey of Nonantola in Italy and later passed through several private collections, including those of Thomas Phillipps and H.P. Kraus.
- ▪Researchers Mark Faulkner and Elisabetta Magnanti identified the poem during a digital examination before confirming its authenticity in person.
- ▪Caedmon, an illiterate farmworker, is said to have composed the hymn in the 7th century after a divine vision instructing him to sing of creation.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
ABC NewsLiveVideoShowsGood Morning AmericaShopGMAInterest Successfully AddedWe'll notify you here with news aboutTurn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? OffOnStream onResearchers stunned by forgotten medieval book in Rome hiding the oldest English poemResearchers in Dublin have uncovered the oldest surviving English poem in a Roman libraryByANDREA ROSA Associated PressMay 17, 2026, 1:29 AM1:10A rare, long-lost copy of Caedmon's Hymn — the first poem ever written down in Old English — is visible in the five lines above the final line of the left page from an 8th-century manuscript copy of the Venerable Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People, at Rome's National Library, Thursday, May 8, 2026.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ABC News — International.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from ABC News — International
