Thief Saved from Hanging
Image displayed with permission of British Library
Thief Saved from Hanging
- 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. 32v, 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 136 has 5 episodes. The painting's episode descriptions, locations, and keywords are:
- 1. The king orders the people to capture the thief (top-left). The object(s) are crown; throne; handkerchief. The living being(s) are king.
- 2. The thief attacks the people on the road (top-center). The object(s) are club; shield; house. The living being(s) are thief.
- 3. The thief is hung by his neck (top-right). The object(s) are gallows.
- 4. The king commands the soldiers to cut off the head of the thief (bottom-left). The object(s) are sword; scabbard; bonds; shackles. The living being(s) are king; soldier.
- 5. The thief becomes a monk (bottom-right). The object(s) are church; icon. The living being(s) are Mary.
- 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 1770.
- 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.
