Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Bible
England, Oxford, ca. 1220
MS M.791 fol. 153v

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1) Antiochus IV: commanding Sacrifices -- Antiochus IV, crowned, semi-reclines on mattress with head on pillow, raising right hand toward five men, two of whom hold swords.
2) Maccabees: Battle -- At right are two opposing groups of four soldiers, helmeted and wearing chain mail tunics, mounted on saddled horses. Two raise swords, three have lances, five have shields. Three heads of soldiers are on ground.
3) Maccabees: Battle -- At bottom, of four soldiers, one carries sword, two have shields, and two blow trumpets. They are behind mounted soldier holding lowered bannered lance in right hand and shield in left. He charges group of five (?) fleeing mounted soldiers, two carrying shields, one grasping the lance. Soldiers all wear helmets, and chain mail tunics.
Scenes within initial E against background of gold, decorated with geometric and foliate ornament.
Beginning of I Maccabees.
Initial M encloses two fantastic animals at beginning of Prologue IV to Maccabees.