Column 1:
Upper margin: A city-scape, represented by a crowded group of buildings and towers, is depicted in the top margin with the Hebrew inscription, שושן - "Shushan". The buildings have pointed roofs, wide arches and many windows and the towers are surmounted by spires. To the right of the city, above the margin on the right, is a scene of stags and birds among trees.
The bottom margin contains a scene of Vashti sitting on a throne on the left at the head of a long laid table. She holds a cup in her left hand and a flask in her right. Ten women sit around the table, holding cups and spoons. One of the women sits before the table playing with a dog. Another dog jumps up on the right. Dishes and goblets are arranged on the table. A maidservant stands on the right holding a ladle in one hand and resting her other hand on a vessel. Another vessel stands on the ground to her left.
| C-326 (former numbers: C-254/3, 6715, 405)
| C-326 (former numbers: C-254/3, 6715, 405)
Esther, Book of (following the order of the story) | Vashti's banquet (Es. 1:9)
Esther, Book of (following the order of the story) | *Esther's Story Characters (depicted not in narrative scenes): | Vashti, the queen
Esther, Book of (following the order of the story) | *Esther's Story Characters (depicted not in narrative scenes): | Esther, the queen
Esther, Book of (following the order of the story) | Execution of Vashti - beheading
|
The scroll consists of 3 membranes with 11 text columns with 27 lines per each, except for the col. 9 with the names of Haman's sons that are inscribed in 11 lines. The membranes contain respectively 4, 5, and 2 text columns.
The text column space is (131-133) x (82-123) mm, while the col. 9 with the names of Haman's sons is 134 x 106 mm. The height of a text panel with decoration is 178-180 mm.
The text is written on the flesh side in the square Ashkenazi stam script, in light brown ink. Haman's sons and the letters forming the names of God as well as ח in Es. 1:6 and ת in Es. 9:29 are written in a larger script.
The ruling is made by a stylus on the flesh side and is barely discernible. It contains 27 horizontal lines ruled across the width of each sheet and 1+1 vertical lines for each column. The pricking is visible on the outer and inner margins of each sheet.
Sheets are sewn by sinew threads.
The opening edge of the scroll was probably cut off.
In verse Es. 2:3 (שמר הנשים ונתון תמרקיהן) some letters are marked by tagim. This may be the way how the date of creation of the scroll was marked - 5500 that is 1739 or 1740 according to the Gregorian calendar.
Online collection of the ritual objects from the E. Ringelblum Jewish Historical Institute is available on http://cbj.jhi.pl/collections/964689
Iwona Brzewska, Magdalena Sieramska, Katalog, rzemiosło artystyczne, [in:] Muzeum Żydowskiego Instytutu Historycznego. Zbiory artystyczne, Auriga Wydawnictwa Artystyczne i Filmowe Warszawa 1995, 34, fig. 60.
Dagmara Budzioch, Dekorowane zwoje Estery z Żydowskiego Instytutu Historycznego w Warszawie na tle tradycji dekorowania megillot Ester w XVII i XVIII wieku. Zarys problematyki, Żydowski Instytut Historyczny Warszawa 2019, 1:228-248, 2: 27-32.