Fondation Martin Bodmer · Bodmer Lab
Cologny / Geneva, Switzerland
P.Bodmer V / PB C
Papyrus Bodmer V
An ancient Greek copy of the Protoevangelium of James, an early Christian work about Mary and the childhood story around Jesus. It is not part of the Bible.
- Where is it today?
- Fondation Martin Bodmer · Bodmer Lab
Cologny / Geneva, Switzerland - When was it made?
- 4th century
- Language
- Greek
- Format
- Papyrus
- What is it?
- A real ancient manuscript of a Christian work related to the Bible, but not a biblical book.
THE STORY
How did this manuscript get here?
We do not know the exact place where this manuscript was first copied. The sources we have checked do not say.
The person who copied this manuscript is not clearly named in the sources we have checked.
Its ancient journey is not fully known. Today it belongs to the Bodmer collection in Cologny, near Geneva, Switzerland.
Greek written on papyrus. Papyrus was made from strips of the papyrus plant and was a common writing material in the ancient world.
- Can you view it?
- Yes — at the library
- Do we have the text?
- Not yet
- Linked to Bible passages?
- Not yet
- Where can you view it?
- On the library website
MANUSCRIPT VIEWEROn the library website
IMAGE ACCESS
THE MANUSCRIPT IS IN MANUSKRPT. THE PAGE IMAGES ARE NOT AVAILABLE HERE YET.
MANUSKRPT uses the in-house viewer when image access and reuse are cleared. For this record, use the library link below until that is resolved.
CONTEXT
Why it is fascinating
It gives us a very early physical copy of a Christian story that became important in later traditions about Mary and Jesus.
TEXT COMPARISON
Have we compared the wording?
Not yet. We will only list differences after the manuscript text has been checked line by line.
CONTINUE EXPLORING
Where does this object lead next?
These suggestions come from known relationships, shared works, language, collection, institution, or chronology — not from a guessed family tree.
About the images
The Bodmer site allows noncommercial reuse. MANUSKRPT links to the library while we keep the image rules clear.