Otto von Passau, Die 24 Alten (The 24 Elders)

"Die vierundzwanzig Alten" or "Der güldene Thron der minnenden Seelen" (The Golden Throne of Loving Souls) by the Franciscan Otto von Passau (documented 1362-1385) from Basle is a collection of sentences, a "comprehensive compendium of Christian wisdom and life" (Helga Unger) from 104 named authors; the 24 elders of the John Apocalypse function as authorities. The individual sentences are arranged according to subjects such as the Lord's Supper, repentance, confession, penance and are linked together by intermediate texts to form continuous tracts. The 24 speeches on central Christian topics are spoken by one of the 24 elders.

The work is preserved in over 100 manuscripts, this paper manuscript with pen drawings dates from 1456. Printed several times from 1480, with woodcuts too, "Die vierundzwanzig Alten" was also translated into Dutch.

To the digitised copy