Sheet no. 2
The seventh column of text is flanked by a column (on the right) and a decoration composed of various motifs (on the left). The column is decorated with an oval with a landscape and above it, a basket with flowers is placed. The decoration on the left is composed of an oval with a figure of Mordecai, a basket with flowers above it, and a garland of fruits below it. The upper and lower margins are adorned with landscapes.
The eighth column of text is flanked by various decorations composed of ovals with figures of Mordecai (on the right) and Queen Esther (on the left), baskets with flowers placed above them, and garlands of fruits placed below them. The upper and lower margins are adorned with a floral and fruit composition and acanthus leaves.
Length of the sheets in the scroll: 1) ca. 565 mm, 2) 395 mm.
An average letter in the scroll is 1 mm high and the spaces between the lines of the text are 1,5 mm.
E | Esther, Book of (following the order of the story) | *Esther's Story Characters (depicted not in narrative scenes): | Esther, the queen
L | Landscape
C | City
B | Basket | Basket with flowers
O | Ornamentation: | Fruit Festoon
A | Acanthus Leaf
O | Ornamentation: | Foliate and floral ornaments | Floral motif
C | Columns
|
The membranes are preserved in satisfactory condition, but they are crumpled and discolorations can be seen on them.
The decorations are seriously damaged especially on the opening section of the scroll.
In general, the lower margins are preserved in worse condition than the upper margins.
The text is well preserved.
The Book of Esther in Hebrew
The scroll is formed of 2 sheets, in total containing 11 columns of text with 29 lines each, except for col. 9 which has 11 lines divided into two half-columns.
The first sheet contains 6 columns of text and the second sheet contains 5 columns.
The text is written in Hebrew square script with tagin in brown ink on parchment membranes that are rather thin, delicate, and slightly suede on the blank side.
The letters ח (Es. 1:6) and ת (Es. 9:29) are enlarged and bolded. Other enlarged and diminished letters are included in col. 9.
The letters of the opening word and the four letters of the name of God are enlarged and bolded.
The ruling - upper and lower horizontal lines - is made with a hard point.
The pricking is invisible.
The membranes in the scroll are glued together.
None
Corrections are made with a pencil; one of them is in the upper margin above col. 5.
No bibliography on the scroll is available.