Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Speculum humanae salvationis
Germany, probably Nuremberg, between 1350 and 1400
MS M.140 fol. 27r

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Left column:
Codrus of Athens: Death -- On parapet, next to tower, Codrus of Athens, inscribed REX CODRUS, crowned, as woman (?) with joined hands, stands flanked by two soldiers wearing helmets and shields decorated with faces. Each extends hand toward Codrus; each stands below inscription UIUAT REX. Below, soldier, inscribed REX CODR(US) wearing helmet, with shield (barry argent and gules) on his left side, is stabbed by two soldiers. One soldier stabs him with knife; the other, wearing garment with heraldic decoration (barry argent and gules) holds round shield (buckler) with left hand and stabs him with spear held in right hand.
Right column:
Maccabees: Battle against Antiochus V -- Eleazar Avaran, name inscribed ELEASAR, reclines beneath elephant and stabs it with spear between hind legs. Elephant bears tower in which are four men and soldiers, three holding spears, two holding shields decorated as barry vert and argent.
Caption, ELEASAR CONFODIT ELEPHANTEM, is inscribed above miniature.