A psalter is a book that contains the Book of Psalms, often with other religious materials such as a church calendar and prayers for saints. Before the book of hours became popular in the Late Middle Ages, psalters were the most common books owned by wealthy non-religious people. These books were frequently used to teach people how to read. Many psalters were decorated with beautiful pictures and are among the most impressive examples of medieval book art that remain today.

The English word "psalter" comes from Church Latin. The Latin word "psalterium" refers to the Book of Psalms. In everyday Latin, the same word described a stringed musical instrument, which came from the Greek word "psalterion." The Book of Psalms includes most of the daily prayers used in the Roman Catholic Church. Other books connected to these prayers are the Lectionary, the Antiphonary, the Responsoriale, and the Hymnary. In modern English, the word "psalter" no longer usually refers to the text of the Book of Psalms itself but instead describes the physical books that contain this text.

Western Christianity

Dedicated psalters, which are different from Psalms found in other formats, such as in a complete Old Testament, were first created in the Latin West during the 6th century in Ireland and later around 700 on the continent.

The Utrecht Psalter, which has many detailed illustrations, is one of the most important surviving manuscripts from the Carolingian period. It greatly influenced the development of Anglo-Saxon art. During the Middle Ages, psalters were among the most popular types of decorated manuscripts, competing with Gospel Books. Over time, psalters became the preferred choice for elaborate decoration. From the late 11th century onward, psalters became very common because clergy recited Psalms at many points in religious services, making them an essential part of church equipment.

Psalters were organized in different ways, often grouping the 150 Psalms. Medieval psalters frequently included a calendar, a list of saints, songs from the Old and New Testaments, and other religious texts. The saints listed in these sections varied, and they can help identify who originally owned the manuscript, as monasteries and private owners often chose saints with special meaning to them.

Many psalters were decorated with large, detailed pictures and ornate lettering. The most important decorated letter, called the "Beatus initial," was based on the word "Beatus vir" ("Blessed is the man") at the start of Psalm 1. This letter was often the most beautifully decorated, sometimes taking up an entire page. Decorated letters or pictures were used to mark the beginning of major sections of the Psalms or daily readings, helping users find specific parts of the text, as medieval books rarely had page numbers.

From the 12th century onward, many psalters included a decorated introduction called a "prefatory cycle," which featured a series of full-page pictures before the Psalms. These images often showed scenes from the Passion story or Old Testament stories. They helped increase the book’s importance and supported personal prayer practices.

The psalter is also part of either the Horologion or the breviary, which are used to recite the Liturgy of the Hours in Eastern and Western Christian traditions, respectively.

Eastern Christianity

Non-illuminated psalters written in Coptic are among the earliest known bound books that have survived. The first Coptic psalter was created more than 100 years before the first Western (Irish) psalter. The oldest complete Coptic psalter, called the Mudil Psalter, was made in the 5th century. It was discovered in a cemetery near Beni Suef, Egypt, in the grave of a young girl. The book was open, and her head was resting on it. Scholar John Gee believes this practice reflects an ancient Egyptian tradition of placing religious texts, like the Book of the Dead, in tombs.

The Pahlavi Psalter is a piece of a Middle Persian translation of a Syriac version of the Book of Psalms. It dates to the 6th or 7th century. In Orthodox Christianity, the Book of Psalms is divided into 20 sections called kathismata, which are read during religious services like Vespers and Matins. The word "kathisma" means "sitting," as people usually sit during these readings. Each kathisma is further divided into three parts called stases. The word "stasis" means "standing," because each part ends with a phrase that causes everyone to stand.

The 20 kathismata are arranged so that the entire Book of Psalms is read over the course of one week. During Great Lent, the psalms are read twice each week. No psalms are read during Bright Week, which is the week of Easter. Orthodox psalters often include Biblical canticles, which are read during the Matins service during Great Lent.

In Orthodox Christian tradition, the Psalms are read in church during vigils, which are times when the deceased is kept in the church before a funeral. This practice is similar to the vigil held on Holy Friday. Some Orthodox psalters include special prayers for the deceased. Although this tradition is becoming less common, the psalter is still sometimes used during wakes.

Significant psalters

See also Category:Illuminated psalters

• Psalter of St. Germain of Paris, 6th century
• Cathach of St. Columba, early 7th century
• Faddan More Psalter
• Vespasian Psalter, 2nd quarter of the 8th century
• Montpellier Psalter
• Chludov Psalter, 3rd quarter of the 9th century
• Southampton Psalter
• Utrecht Psalter, 9th century
• Salaberga Psalter
• Stuttgart Psalter
• Lothair Psalter, 840–855, British Library, Add. MS 37768

• Paris Psalter, 10th century
• Ramsey Psalter
• Gertrude Psalter, late 10th century with mid-11th century illuminations
• Theodore Psalter, 1066, at the British Library
• Psalterium Sinaiticum, 11th century
• Melisende Psalter, circa 1135
• Eadwine Psalter, c 1160
• Harley Psalter
• St. Albans Psalter
• Winchester Psalter
• Westminster Psalter
• Felbrigge Psalter
• Great Canterbury Psalter (Anglo-Catalan Psalter or Paris Psalter), c.1200 and 1340s
• Psalter of St. Louis
• Ormesby Psalter, start 13th century, Bodleian Library
• Potocki Psalter, mid 13th century, now Warsaw with detached leaves elsewhere.

• Queen Mary Psalter
• Luttrell Psalter
• Gorleston Psalter
• Macclesfield Psalter
• Tickhill Psalter
• Sofia Psalter
• Tomich Psalter
• 232/15 Psalter at OPenn
• Kiev Psalter of 1397
• Psalter of Jean, Duc de Berry
• Burnet Psalter

• Psalter of Henry VIII
• Daskal Philip Psalter
• 1953–128–7 Liturgical psalter at OPenn

See also Category:Psalters

• Psalterium Romanum, 1457 [Mainz], Johann Fust and Peter Schöffer. The first printed psalter.
• Psalterium Benedictinum, 1459 [Mainz], Johann Fust and Peter Schöffer. The second printed psalter.

• Coverdale's Psalter, 1535
• Genevan Psalter, 1562
• David's Psalter, a translation of the Book of Psalms into Polish by Jan Kochanowski, 1579
• Scottish Psalter, 1635 and 1650
• Bay Psalm Book,