Figurative scenes above and below the 4th column of the text (sheet no. 1).
The upper scene shows Mordecai walking in front of the women's house (Es. 2:11), depicted as a large three-story building. Two small figures are on the right.
On the left side of the oval, the sacrifice of Isaac is depicted, inscribed עקדת יצחק. It shows the unclothed Isaac with tied hands who lies on the altar. Avraham holds a sword above him, while an angel holds the other side of the sword. Sarah and a ram appear on the left (Genesis 22:9-13).
The lower frame includes two scenes: on the right, a man (Hegai?) brings Esther to the palace to be presented before the king (Es. 2:16). On the right, enthroned king Ahasuerus with a scepter in his hand puts a crown on Esther's head (Es. 2:17).
On the left side of the oval, the scene shows Joseph's brothers throwing him into the pit (Genesis 37:24). It is not captioned.
The length of the sheets in the scroll: 1) ca. 775 mm, 2) 735 mm, 3) 445 mm.
Dimensions of the selected details in the scroll:
- text column: ca. 142x90 mm;
- decorative columns between the columns of the text: ca. 160x15-20 mm;
- illustration: 35 x ca. 85 mm;
- an average letter: 3 mm;
- spaces between the lines of the text: 3 mm.
There is some blank space at the beginning (ca. 110 mm) and the end (ca. 75 mm) of the scroll.
E | Esther, Book of (following the order of the story) | Esther presented before Ahasuerus (Es. 2:16)
E | Esther, Book of (following the order of the story) | Coronation of Esther (Es. 2:17)
I | Isaac | Isaac, Sacrifice of
J | Joseph | Joseph, taken from pit (Gen. 37:28)
J | Joseph | Joseph, cast into pit (Gen. 37:24)
C | Columns
O | Ornamentation: | Ornament
|
The Book of Esther in Hebrew
The scroll is formed of 3 sheets containing 15 columns of the text with 26 or 27 lines, except for col. 13 with 11 lines divided into two parts.
Sheets nos. 1 and 2 contain 6 columns of the text, and the third sheet contains 3 columns.
The text is inscribed in the Hebrew square Italian script with tagim, in dark brown ink, on the flesh side of parchment sheets that are bright, of medium thickness, and rather stiff. The blank side of the sheets is very dark.
Tagin seem to be marked in darker ink than the text was written.
The letter ח (Es. 1:6) is marked by its form - it is composed of two parts joined with a roof. The letter ת (Es. 9:29) is enlarged. Other enlarged and diminished letters are included in col. 13.
The ruling was possibly drawn with a pencil along with the whole sheet.
The membranes in the scroll are stitched.
None
Originally some details could be painted in gold.
The paints' shades are not the same on all membranes.