Img. ID: 348732
Sheet no. 1
The decorative scheme surrounding columns of text nos. 1-4 contains arcades that support a balustrade located in the upper margin with pairs of birds flanking the cartouches above each arch (this part of decorations is poorly preserved). Flower-filled vases atop each column separate these decorative illuminations. The lower margin is filled with figurative scenes that chronicle the narrative of the Book of Esther (the first three illustrations are barely visible and difficult to recognize):
Illustration 1 depicts Queen Vashti's feast (Es. 1:9). Vashti sits under a high canopy at a large round table. Three (?) women accompany her at the table. On the left, a man and a woman are approaching the table.
Illustration 2 depicts a group of women brought into the king's court (Es. 2:1-4), lead by a man who is most likely Hegai (Es. 2:8); possibly the first of them is Esther. On the right, a building can be seen.
Illustration 3 depicts the coronation of Esther (Es. 2:17). The scene is witnessed by four men, two on either side.
Illustration 4 on the right there, are two men (Bigthan and Teresh) standing by a gate and a man (Mordecai) before them. Apparently, it shows Mordecai overhearing the plot of the king's chamberlains (Es. 2:21).
Length of the sheets in the scroll: 1) 250x510 mm, 2) 260x480 mm, 3) 260x595 mm.
Dimensions of sheets nos. 2 and 3 that are sewn together: 260x1075 mm.
A | Arch
C | Columns
V | Vase | Vase with flowers
F | Flower
O | Ornamentation: | Cartouche
C | Cock (Hen, Rooster)
T | Turkey (bird)
E | Esther, Book of (following the order of the story) | Vashti's banquet (Es. 1:9)
E | Esther, Book of (following the order of the story) | Esther and maiden(s) are brought to the palace (Es. 2:8)
E | Esther, Book of (following the order of the story) | Hegai taking Esther and the maiden(s) to the palace (Es. 2:8)
E | Esther, Book of (following the order of the story) | Coronation of Esther (Es. 2:17)
O | Ornamentation: | Main text framed
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The scroll is incomplete; it lacks the text from Es. 1:1-Es. 1:12 and from 8:12 until the end of the book.
The first sheet is separated from the remaining two sheets of the scroll.
The first membrane, particularly its upper margin, is preserved in very poor condition. Also, the illustrations painted on it are seriously damaged.
The edges of the second membrane are frayed.
Some parts of the text are erased.
The Book of Esther in Hebrew
The preserved part of the scroll is formed of 3 sheets containing a total of 13 columns of text with 22 lines each.
The number of columns per sheet: no. 1 - 4 columns, no. 2 - 4 columns, no. 3 - 5 columns.
The text is written in Hebrew square Italian script in black ink by two different hands.
The text and decorations are on the flesh side of the parchments.
There are numerous elongated letters in the text.
The membranes in the scroll are stitched together, but the first sheet is separated from the two remaining sheets that are sewn together.
None
Above text columns nos. 1-7, מגלת אסתר - "Megilat Esther" is inscribed.
Some details in the scroll are painted gold.
The illustrations in the scroll are not an exact copy of these illustrating the scrolls representing Gaster II type.
No bibliography on the scroll is available.