Sybil the Prophetess's Vision
Image displayed with permission of British Library
Sybil the Prophetess's Vision
- This painting (also called an illumination) appears in a manuscript taken from King Tewodros's royal library in Magdala, Southern Ethiopia, and dated to 1721-1730. You can view this painting in the manuscript British Library, "Orient" Collection, Manuscript No. 648, f. 35r, or learn more about this manuscript at its PEMM Manuscript page. You can also read the related story at its PEMM Story page.
- Many Geʿez manuscript paintings are in "Synoptic Narrative Art” style; that is, a single painting depicts multiple moments in the story, providing a series of vignettes representing different plot points. PEMM calls these "episodes". This painting of PEMM Story ID 137 has 3 episodes. The painting's episode descriptions, locations, and keywords are:
- 1. The Heavenly Altar (top). The object(s) are tent; church; icon; crown; handkerchief; hand cross; censer; candle. The living being(s) are Mary.
- 2. A crowd of people gather in front of the king (bottom-left). The object(s) are sword; scabbard. The living being(s) are king; soldier.
- 3. The wise woman Sybil reveals to the king her vision about St Mary and Jesus Christ appearing within a golden ring (bottom-right). The object(s) are sun. The living being(s) are king; Sybil; Mary; Jesus Christ.
- The number of PEMM manuscripts that have paintings of this story is 1. The total number of paintings of this story in PEMM manuscripts is 1.
- PEMM's ID number for this painting is 1580.
- To reproduce this image online or in print, please contact the British Library. PEMM does not own the rights.
- If you think any of the information on this page is incorrect (e.g., the location, date, description, captions), please use our PEMM Feedback Form to let us know. We depend on users like you to improve the site.
