Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Antiquitates Judaicae
France, Dijon, late 13th century
MS M.533 fol. 1r

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Initial I with 10 medallions:
1) Creation Scene -- Christ-Logos, crossed nimbus, raising right hand in blessing, holding tripartite globe with raised left hand, is seated on bench.
2) Creation Scene: 1st Day -- Christ-Logos, crossed nimbus, raising right hand in blessing, raised left hand touching sky; earth below.
3) Creation Scene: 2nd Day -- Christ-Logos, crossed nimbus, raising right hand in blessing, raising left hand above water.
4) Creation Scene: 1st Day -- Christ-Logos, crossed nimbus, raising right hand in blessing, raised left hand touching sky; earth below.
5) Creation Scene: 4th Day -- Christ-Logos, raising right hand in blessing, grasping with left hand, sky in which are sun, moon and stars.
6) Creation Scenes: 3rd Day and 5th Day -- Christ-Logos, crossed nimbus, flanked by plant and animals, extending right hand to the plant and left hand to one of the animals.
7) Eve: Creation (?) -- Christ-Logos, crossed nimbus, raising right hand in blessing, placing left hand on head of Adam, with joined hands raised; half-figure of Eve behind Adam.
8) Adam and Eve: commanded by God -- Christ-Logos, crossed nimbus, gesturing with both hands toward tree, looking back over left shoulder at Adam and Eve, standing behind Him.
9) Adam and Eve: Fall of Man -- Tree entwined by serpent is flanked by nude Adam, raising left hand to head and nude Eve extending right hand to the tree.
10) Adam and Eve: Expulsion -- Angel, nimbed, holding sword with right hand, placing left hand on shoulder of either Adam or Eve, both nude, raising right hands.
Beginning of Book 1, Chapter 1 of Josephus, Antiquitates Judaicae.