Syriaque Bible of Paris

The Syriaque Bible of Paris (Paris, National library, ms syr. 341) is a handwritten enluminé of the Bible writes in syriaque language. It is dated from 6th or 7th century. It is thought that it was carried out in the north of the Mésopotamie. The manuscript is composed of 246 folios of 312 mm by 230 Misters For reasons of economy, the text is written there on 3 columns.

Illuminations are miniatures presenting each book of the Bible and presented in a column of the text. The miniature of the Book of the Genesis which was perhaps most beautiful, is missing. Even if the majority of the miniatures are portraits of the author, some present scenes of the following book. For example, the miniature preceding the Livre by Job presents Job on the heap of manure. This miniature gathers several scenes of the Book of Job. Job is presented naked on the heap of manure, cover of wounds. Under him, his wife speaks to him. On the left, his/her three friends are. One of them takes its clothing, whereas the two others sat, and speak to him.

The Livre of the Exodus has also a narrative miniature at its beginning. It presents Moïse and Aaron asking for the permission of leave to Pharaon. It is difficult to include/understand why this scene, rather than one of the others more popular was selected like only illustration of the Exodus. Other miniatures present allegorical groups. The miniature of the Book of the Proverbs watch the Virgin with the Child, surrounded by Solomon, incarnating the wisdom of the Old Testament, and the Ecclésia, a personification of the Christian Church.

The miniatures present a mixture of the heritage Hellénistique with the syriaque narrative tradition. Certain miniatures, and especially the miniature of the Exodus presents similarities stylistics with the miniatures of the Évangile of Rabula. Starting from this observation, it is not very probable that this manuscript was made subsequently to the Gospels of Rabula Gospels gone back to 586.

The manuscript is supposed to come from the episcopal library of Siirt close to the Lac of Van, where it could be produced. It is with the National library of France since 1909.

References

  • Calkins, Robert G. Illuminated Books off the Middle Old . Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Near, 1983.

  • Weitzmann, Kurt. Ancient Late and Early Christian Book Illumination . New York, George Braziller, 1977.

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