Purple-stained and probably made for a great, if heretical, ruler, this item's name makes quite clear the material in which it was written. Incorporating a translation by someone who might be called, today, "Wolfie," and offering us our very best understanding of Wolfie's language, it was once owned by a famous reluctant queen. Much of what's left of it still resides in that royal lady's country. What is it, and who was Wolfie?

lanfranco

Hmm, I see a hint is required. If you Google "purple," "queen," and another word that should be suggested by the question, you'll be taken directly to the right site. Aug 20 07, 4:29 PM

queproblema

purple < murex? > Tyrian purple? Phoenician, Hittite? Luvel, Lowell? Cryptic, cryptic? Aug 20 07, 4:31 PM

lanfranco

Not remotely cryptic. What sort of item is suggested by the question? Think "translation" and "language." I really don't try to be that mysterious with my questions. I like to give everyone a fighting chance. Aug 20 07, 4:52 PM

queproblema

The "Codex Argenteus," known in English as the "Silver Bible," was written in gold and silver ink on purple-stained vellum c. 500 C.E. for Theodoric the Great, a follower of Arianism. Written in Greek, it also contained Bishop Ulfilas's ("Wolfie's") Gothic language translation of the Bible. A thousand years later it wound up in the library of Queen Christina of Sweden. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codex_Argenteus Aug 20 07, 6:18 PM

lanfranco

Very nice, qp, a royal-purple cloak with a nice silver fibula to you. You wouldn't have been allowed to wear the cloak back there in Ravenna, but we're much more democratic these days. Aug 20 07, 7:02 PM

queproblema

Wouldn't it be surprising if I turned out to be a princess, of say, Genovia, or perhaps even a reluctant queen.... Nah, not this old aardappeleter. Aug 20 07, 9:52 PM