Img. ID: 332897
Sheet no. 4
Columns of text nos. 24-27 are surrounded by hand-painted floral decorations. The scenes (nos. 24-26 and 28) in the lower margins illustrate:
24. Two mounted men and a man following them - possibly the king's messengers (Es. 8:14).
25. One of the battles between the Jews and their enemies but it is difficult to determine which verse is depicted here.
26. On the right, a man is seated on a chair and another man is in front of him. On the left, a man is seated at a table and another one is approaching the table - both scenes are difficult to interpret.
28. A city, a man, and a tree.
On the left, a silver case with a figure of a man at its top is visible.
E | Esther, Book of (following the order of the story) | Ahasuerus' messenger(s) (Es. 8:14)
E | Esther, Book of (following the order of the story) | Jews battle their enemies (Es. 9:5-12)
C | City
O | Ornamentation: | Foliate and floral ornaments
V | Vase | Vase with flowers
O | Ornamentation: | Main text framed
|
In general, the manuscript (the text, decorations, and parchments) is well preserved.
It seems the opening decoration is not complete and lacks its part on the right-hand side.
The final part of the decoration (on the left side of the last panel) is a later addition to the scroll.
The Book of Esther in Hebrew
The scroll is formed of 4 sheets, in total containing 27 columns of text with 16 lines each, except for col. 23 which has 11 lines divided into two half-columns.
The number of columns of text per sheet: no. 1 - 6 columns, nos. 2 and 3 - 7 columns, no. 4 - 6 columns.
The text is written in Hebrew square Ashkenazi script with tagin in dark brown-black ink on the flesh side of parchment membranes.
The letter ח (Es. 1:6) is enlarged and decorated with scrolled feet. The letter ת (Es. 9:29) is enlarged.
It seems the ruling was done with a pencil; only vertical lines are visible.
The pricking is invisible.
The membranes of the scroll are glued together.
None
The place of the manuscript's origin - Brno - is given according to William Gross.
The text panels are of different widths.
No bibliography on the manuscript is available.