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© Gross Family Collection, Photographer: Bar Hama, Ardon, -, Negative/Photo. No. M002266.
Name/Title
GFC Folk Esther Scroll with Roundels | Unknown
Object Detail
roundels 5 and 6
Date
First half of the 18th century
Synagogue active dates
Reconstruction dates
Artist/ Maker
Unknown (Unknown)
Origin
Historical Origin
Unknown
Community
Unknown |
Location
Unknown |
Site
Unknown
School/Style
Unknown|
Period
Period Detail
Collection
Category
Material/Technique
Ink and paints on parchment
Material Stucture
Material Decoration
Material Bonding
Material Inscription
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
Density
Colors
Construction material
Measurements
The scroll: 180x1220 mm.
Height
Length
Width
Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
Condition

The opening part is very dark and the decorations on it are damaged.

Some parts of the text are erased.

Extant
Documented by CJA
Surveyed by CJA
Present Usage
Present Usage Details
Condition of Building Fabric
Architectural Significance type
Historical significance: Event/Period
Historical significance: Collective Memory/Folklore
Historical significance: Person
Architectural Significance: Style
Architectural Significance: Artistic Decoration
Urban significance
Significance Rating
Description

Sheet no. 2

The upper and lower margins are decorated with belts filled with foliate and floral ornaments in which birds and fish are woven.

Illustrations between roundel nos. 4 and 5: The upper scene shows two scribes sitting at a round table with a vase (?) who are writing one of the decrees (possibly Haman's decree, Es. 3:12). It is inscribed סופרי המלך ("the king's scribes").

The lower scene shows Mordecai on a chair, inscribed מרדכי יושב בשער המלך, and a soldier with a sword and halberd, inscribed שומר שער ("guard of the gate").

Illustrations between roundel nos. 5 and 6: The scene of the triumph of Mordecai (Es. 6:11) is divided into two parts; here only Mordecai on horseback is depicted and Haman proclaming his glory is shown on the other side of the roundel. The figure of Mordecai is inscribed in Hebrew:

 מרדכי רוכב בלבוש מלכות על סוס המלך וכתר מלכות בראשו

Below, Ahasuerus from the throne extends his scepter to Esther who is kneeling before him (Es. 5:2). The scene is inscribed in Hebrew:

ותפול אסתר לפני אגלי המלך ותגיד ותתחנן על עמה ויושט לה המלך השרביט הזהב אשר בידו ותגע בראש השרביט 

Illustrations between roundel nos. 6 and 7: Haman with a whip in his hand belongs to the scene of the triumph of Mordecai (Es. 6:11) that is represented on the other side of the roundel.

The upper figure depicts Haman; it is inscribed in Hebrew:

והמן רץ לפני מרדכי ברחוב העיר וקרא לפניו ככה יעשה לאיש אשר המלך חפץ ביקרו

The lower scene shows Haman hanged on the gallows (Es. 7:10); it is inscribed in Hebrew:

המן תלוי על עץ גבה חמשים אמה על אשר בקש לשלח יד ביהודים ולהגרם ביום אחד

Custom
Contents

The Book of Esther in Hebrew

Codicology

The scroll is formed of 3 sheets containing in total 9 columns of text (8 of them is written in roundels) with 28, 30, or 31 lines each, except for col. 8 which has 11 lines divided into two half-columns.

The number of columns of text per sheet: no. 1 - 4 columns, no. 2 - 3 columns, no. 3 - 2 columns.

The text is written in Hebrew square Ashkenazi script with tagin in dark brown and brown ink on parchment membranes.

The letters ח (Es. 1:6) and ת (Es. 9:29) are enlarged and bolded. Other enlarged and diminished letters are included in col. 8.

The letters of the name of God are marked with tagin bent to the right.

Several letters in the scroll are decorated with tiny swirls.

The ruling is almost invisible; only in a few places, its traces can be discerned.

The pricking on the membranes' edges can be seen; it is visible either on the side of the text and decorations or on the blank side of the parchments.

The membranes of the scroll are glued together.

Scribes
Script
Number of Lines
Ruling
Pricking
Quires
Catchwords
Hebrew Numeration
Blank Leaves
Direction/Location
Façade (main)
Endivances
Location of Torah Ark
Location of Apse
Location of Niche
Location of Reader's Desk
Location of Platform
Temp: Architecture Axis
Arrangement of Seats
Location of Women's Section
Direction Prayer
Direction Toward Jerusalem
Signature
Colophon

None

Scribal Notes
Watermark
Trade Mark
Binding
Decoration Program
Summary and Remarks

The third membrane is different from the two first membranes in the scroll; it is more suede and yellower than them and its quality influenced the text and decorations.

History/Provenance
Main Surveys & Excavations
Bibliography

The fragments of the scroll are reproduced in some publications, but no comprehensive discussion on it is available.

Short Name
Full Name
Volume
Page
Type
Documenter
Dagmara Budzioch | 2020
Researcher
Dagmara Budzioch | 2020
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