The Latin Bern Aenigmata (Riddles) are believed to be written in Northern Italy around 700 AD. The collection consists of 64 short poems about objects from everyday life, plants and animals, and cosmological topics - ranging from an earthenware cooking pot to the movements of the heavenly bodies - that are transformed into enigmatic miniatures. The bilingual edition is supplemented by a detailed commentary and introduction that discusses the probable date and origin of this fascinating collection as well as its unique position within the late antique and early medieval riddle tradition.

Dieter Bitterli, University of Zurich, Switzerland.