29.04.2026 14:34
A lost copy of "Caedmon's Hymn," one of the oldest poems in English literature, dating back around 1200 years, has been found in Rome. The manuscript, discovered by academics from Trinity College Dublin, notably differs from other copies in that its main text was written in Old English. Experts say this feature makes the work even more significant for linguistic history.
A lost copy of "Caedmon's Hymn," considered one of the oldest known poems in English literature, has been unearthed in Rome, the capital of Italy. Academics Elisabetta Magnanti and Mark Faulkner from Trinity College Dublin identified the work at the National Central Library of Rome.
1200-YEAR-OLD MANUSCRIPT
According to a report by The Guardian, the manuscript, estimated to be around 1200 years old, contains the poem attributed to Caedmon, a shepherd who lived in the 7th century. The text is said to have been written by a monk in northern Italy between 800 and 830 AD.
STANDS OUT WITH OLD ENGLISH DETAIL
The academics stated that the work was written in Old English, used by the Anglo-Saxons, and that this language differs significantly from modern English in both vocabulary and structure. Faulkner noted that in other copies at Cambridge and St. Petersburg, the text is predominantly in Latin, with Old English phrases appearing only in marginal notes.
It was emphasized that this copy found in Rome stands out because it uses Old English in the main body of the text.
ONE OF THE FIRST POETS OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
According to the medieval historian Bede's work "Ecclesiastical History of the English People," Caedmon, a shepherd living at Whitby Abbey in the 7th century, is considered one of the first poets of English literature with this hymn praising God.