Anonymous: Speculum Humanae Salvationis. - Hs 2505, folio 51v & 52r (1360)
(University and State Library Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany)
Two illuminated pages by an unknown German artist. This page is from a book called "Speculum Humanae Salvationis" - "Mirror of Human Salvation". The book is an illustrated manuscript in which events from the Old Testament are linked with events of the New Testament - the old testament events prefigured or foretold the new testament events. The book was very popular and was copied often in the Middle Ages. These two pages show chapter 24 of the book and concerns the crucifixion of Christ. The pages are divided into 4 parts:
Left page top: the crucifixion of Christ
Left page Bottom: the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar. This scene comes from the book of Daniel 4. King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon (634-562 BC) had a dream in of a great tree at the center of the earth. The top of the tree touches the heavens and provided food and shelter to all the creatures of the world. As the king watches, a 'holy watcher' comes from the heaven and call for the tree to be cut down and claims that his (king Nebuchadnezzar) human mind will be changed to that of a beast for seven times. Daniel explains that the king himself is the tree (the tree is a symbol of human arrogance), and by the decree of God Nebuchadnezzar will lose his human mind for the mind of an animal, and live with wild animals and eat grass like an ox for seven years. The king indeed loses his mind and after seven years his mind is restored again. The king praised God, for "all his works are truth, and his ways are justice, and he is able to bring low those who walk in pride." The message of Nebuchadnezzar's madness is that all earthly power, including that of kings, is subordinate to the power of God.
Right page top: the sacrifice of Codrus. Codrus was a semi-mythical King of Athens (reign 1089–1068 BC). The territory of Codrus was invaded by a Dorian army who relied on a prophecy that their invasion would succeed as long as the king of Athens was not harmed. Upon hearing this prophecy king Codrus of Athens disguised himself as a commoner, sneaked to the Dorian camp and provoked an attack by Dorian soldiers who killed him Upin hearing of the death of Codrus the Dorian army retreated. After the heroic sacrifice of Codrus it was proclaimed by the Athenians that no one was worthy to succeed Codrus as a king and the title was abolished, and that of archon substituted for it. In the book the sacrifice of Codrus is seen as a prefigure of the crucifixion: just as Codrus sacrificies himself to save his city, so Christ sacrifices himself to save mankind.
Right page Bottom: The heroism of Eleazar Maccabeus. This scene comes from the Books of the Maccabees and took place during the Maccabean Revolt (167 to 160 BC) against the the Seleucid Empire who ruled Israel at that time. Eleazar Maccabeus was the brother of Judas Maccabeus, leader of the revolt). During the battle of Beth-Zechariah (162 BC) Eleazar identified a war elephant that he believed to carry the Seleucid King Antiochus V due to the special armor the elephant wore. Eleazar attacked the elephant and attacked the elephant by thrusting a spear into its unprotected belly. The dead elephant then collapsed upon Eleazar, killing him as well. The sacrifice of Eleazar also prefiguring Christ's sacrifice of himself for mankind.
This book was probably commissioned by the the Teutonic Order. Pages from 1360.
Right page top: the sacrifice of Codrus. Codrus was a semi-mythical King of Athens (reign 1089–1068 BC). The territory of Codrus was invaded by a Dorian army who relied on a prophecy that their invasion would succeed as long as the king of Athens was not harmed. Upon hearing this prophecy king Codrus of Athens disguised himself as a commoner, sneaked to the Dorian camp and provoked an attack by Dorian soldiers who killed him Upin hearing of the death of Codrus the Dorian army retreated. After the heroic sacrifice of Codrus it was proclaimed by the Athenians that no one was worthy to succeed Codrus as a king and the title was abolished, and that of archon substituted for it. In the book the sacrifice of Codrus is seen as a prefigure of the crucifixion: just as Codrus sacrificies himself to save his city, so Christ sacrifices himself to save mankind.
Right page Bottom: The heroism of Eleazar Maccabeus. This scene comes from the Books of the Maccabees and took place during the Maccabean Revolt (167 to 160 BC) against the the Seleucid Empire who ruled Israel at that time. Eleazar Maccabeus was the brother of Judas Maccabeus, leader of the revolt). During the battle of Beth-Zechariah (162 BC) Eleazar identified a war elephant that he believed to carry the Seleucid King Antiochus V due to the special armor the elephant wore. Eleazar attacked the elephant and attacked the elephant by thrusting a spear into its unprotected belly. The dead elephant then collapsed upon Eleazar, killing him as well. The sacrifice of Eleazar also prefiguring Christ's sacrifice of himself for mankind.
This book was probably commissioned by the the Teutonic Order. Pages from 1360.