Img. ID: 334866
Figurative scenes above and below the 9th column of the text:
The frame above the column of the text includes two scenes. On the right, Ahasuerus is being read the Book of Records (Es. 6:1-3); the king reclines in the bed, while three people are reading from a book. On the left, Ahasuerus asks Haman how to honor a man he wishes to reward; the king rests in the bed, while three men Haman stand in front of him (the closest to the king may be Haman).
On the left side of the frame, Moses, inscribed משה, and the burning bush are depicted (Exodus 3:2-4).
The frame below the column of the text includes two scenes. On the right, Mordecai climbs the horse using Haman's back, as described in Bab. Talmud, Megillah 16a. On the left, Mordecai is on a horse led by Haman with a trumpet (Es. 6:11). Haman's daughter empties a chamber pot on her father's head, as described in Bab. Talmud, Megillah 16a.
On the left side of the frame, a flower is depicted.
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) | Mordecai climbing on the horse using Haman's back (Bab. Talmud, Megillah 16a)
E | Esther, Book of (following the order of the story) | Mordecai's triumph (Es. 6:11)
E | Esther, Book of (following the order of the story) | Haman's daughter empties a chamber pot on her father's head (Bab. Talmud, Megillah 16a)
M | Mount | Mount Sinai
M | Moses | Moses at the burning bush
C | Columns
F | Flower
O | Ornamentation: | Ornament
E | Esther, Book of (following the order of the story) | Ahasuerus asks Haman how to honour a man he wishes to reward (Es. 6:5-10)
|
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.