The Codex Cavensis, commonly referred to as the Bible of Danila – named after the scribe who signed it – dates back to the 9th century. It was among the first copies of the Vulgate to circulate in the Iberian Peninsula. The Vulgate, translated into Latin by Saint Jerome, served as the reference edition of the biblical text for over a thousand years, from the 5th century until the early 16th century.

It is currently housed in the library of the Benedictine Abbey of Cava dei Tirreni in Naples. However, it was produced in an Asturian scriptorium – though the exact location is difficult to pinpoint – during the reign of King Alfonso II.

Its folios are crafted from vellum, a type of parchment with a highly polished surface, known for its thinness and durability, made from the skin of unborn or newborn calves. The illuminations feature geometric and vegetal motifs, intricate crosses, and simulated architecture. Notably, there are no representations of human figures within the manuscript.