Text columns 1 and 2 (sheet no. 1) surrounded by hardly visible remains of the hand-painted decoration. A part of the sheet is seriously damaged and the text is preserved in a very poor condition. In the spaces between the text columns, a figure of a woman and buildings are incorporated but they are barely visible. She can be one of the Esther story heroines.
The length of the sheets in the scroll: 1) ca. 825 mm, 2) ca. 540 mm, 3) 535 mm, 4) 275 mm.
Dimensions of the selected details in the scroll:
- text column: 75 x ca. 55 mm;
- upper and lower margins: 23 mm;
- spaces between the text panels: 20 mm;
- ovals: 30 mm (height);
- illustration in col. 24: 75 mm (height).
An average letter is 2 mm high whereas the letters in col. 24 are 3 mm high.
The space between the subsequent lines is 2 mm high.
The rod: 260 mm.
V | Vase | Vase with flowers
O | Ornamentation: | Foliate and floral ornaments | Floral motif
A | Acanthus Leaf
G | Garland
H | Human Figure
B | Buildings
C | Columns
E | Esther, Book of (following the order of the story) | Esther story protagonists
P | Portrait | Portrait medallion
|
The Book of Esther in Hebrew
The scroll is composed of 4 sheets containing 28 text columns with 19 or 20 lines, except for col. 24 with 11 lines.
The text is inscribed in the Hebrew square Sephardi script resembling otiot Amsterdam, in black ink of two shades, on the flesh side of the parchment sheets that are quite thick and stiff. Both sides of the sheets are very similar but the flesh side is more matte than the hair side that is more smooth and shiny.
The letter ת (Es. 9:29) is highlighted by its size. It cannot be determined if the ח (Es. 1:6) is highlighted too.
The name of God is highlighted at least 3 times on the second sheet; the letters forming it are enlarged (they are 3 mm high).
Other enlarged and diminished letters are included in col. 24.
The last column in the scroll is narrowing downwards - the last few lines in it are shorter than the others.
The ruling is made with a stylus.
The membranes in the scroll are glued.
None
Some decorations are very detailed such as facial features of the figures, wigs, costumes, the letter that is held by a man, but at the same time, many other elements are schematically drawn, e.g. the buildings.
Unknown