Words : CARMINA FIGURATA

... a word poem, in which figural images were superimposed onto the grids of letters, to form a religious image. The genre was popularized greatly by Porphyrius, who at the end of the fourth century produced a series of poems for the first Christian Roman Emperor, Constantine. 

by Hrabanus Mauru, Germany 12th c

by Hrabanus Mauru, Germany 12th c

Five Scrolls from France 14th c.

Prayer book, France 14th c.

Five Scrolls from France 13th c.

   

PS: These are NOT Greek pattern poems or Concrete poetry.
PPS Photos are from the British Library manuscript archives.