Prague (December 14, 2005) – The fictional Da Vinci Code has fascinated millions of readers around the world since its first publication in 2003. But not many are aware of “MS 408”, one of the most mysterious books of the world, also known under “the Voynich Code” which is currently stored at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library of the Yale University. This book is probably from Central Europe, written at the end of the 15th or during the 16th century. It contains “scientific or magical text in an unidentified language, in cipher, apparently based on Roman miniscule characters” and “botanical and scientific drawings” in almost every page.
Reportedly, “the codex belonged to Emperor Rudolph II” of Germany (Holy Roman Emperor, 1576-1612) who purchased it for 600 gold ducats. Many scholars believed Roger Bacon did the work. It was not quite sure what happened to the book after that. It resurfaced in 1912, when it was acquired by Wilfred M. Voynich from the Jesuit College at Fracasti south of Rome. In 1969, H.P. Kraus, who had bought it from the estate of Ethel Voynich, gave it to the Beinecke Library. To this day, no scholars are able to decipher the unidentified language, the botanical drawings, the astronomical or astrological diagrams and several other mysterious artifacts. If you think you can do better, just stop by at the Beinecke Libtary, Yale University, to see the original.
