Sagittarius and Pisces from BL Add 26896, f. 155v
Zodiac sign of Sagittarius (~Qeshet~) and Pisces (~Dagim~) in medallions, accompanying a liturgical poem (~piyyut~) for the Prayer for dew during Passover. Image taken from f. 155v of Festival prayer book (~mah... More
Libra from BL Add 22413, f. 140v
Medallion with the zodiac sign of Libra (~Moznayim~), in the Prayer for rain (~Tefilat ha-geshem~, Davidson vol. 2, no. 3466) recited on Shemini Atzeret. Image taken from f. 140v of Festival prayer book for Sh... More
Hybrids from BL Add 26896, f. 367v
Marginal drawings of two hybrids with vine sprigs of vine coming out of their mouths. Image taken from f. 367v of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) for the Special Shabbatot, Passover, Shavuot with the Book of Ru... More
Dragons from BL Add 26896, f. 353v
Marginal drawing of two dragons with their necks entwined with an inscription incorporated the drawing, ‘Dragon Samael’, perhaps added, in Ruth. Image taken from f. 353v of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) for t... More
Gemini from BL Add 22413, f. 139
Medallion with the zodiac sign of Gemini (~Teomim~), in the Prayer for rain (~Tefilat ha-geshem~, Davidson vol. 2, no. 3466) recited on Shemini Atzeret. Image taken from f. 139 of Festival prayer book for Shavu... More
Taurus and Gemini from BL Add 26896, f. 153v
Zodiac signs of Taurus (~Shor~) and of Gemini (~teomim~) in medallions, accompanying a liturgical poem (~piyyut~) for the Prayer for dew during Passover. Image taken from f. 153v of Festival prayer book (~mahzo... More
Leo and Virgo from BL Add 22413, f. 140
Medallions with the zodiac signs of Leo (~Ariyeh~) and Virgo (~Betulah~), in the Prayer for rain (~Tefilat ha-geshem~, Davidson vol. 2, no. 3466) recited on Shemini Atzeret. Image taken from f. 140 of Festiva... More
Leo and Virgo from BL Add 26896, f. 154v
Zodiac signs of Leo (~Arie~) and Virgo (~Betulah~) in medallions, accompanying a liturgical poem (~piyyut~) for the Prayer for dew during Passover. Image taken from f. 154v of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) fo... More
Devil from BL Add 26896, f. 184
Detail: marginal drawing of a devil in the lower margin. Image taken from f. 184 of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) for the Special Shabbatot, Passover, Shavuot with the Book of Ruth, and Ninth of Av with the B... More
Taurus from BL Add 22413, f. 138v
Detail: medallion with the zodiac sign of Taurus (~Shor~), in the Prayer for rain (~Tefilat ha-geshem~, Davidson vol. 2, no. 3466) recited on Shemini Atzeret. Image taken from f. 138v of Festival prayer book fo... More
Scorpio from BL Add 22413, f. 141
Detail: medallion with the zodiac sign of Scorpio (~Akrav~) depicted as a turtle, in the Prayer for rain (~Tefilat ha-geshem~, Davidson vol. 2, no. 3466) recited on Shemini Atzeret. Image taken from f. 141 of F... More
Devil from BL Add 26896, f. 184
Marginal drawing of a devil in the lower margin. Image taken from f. 184 of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) for the Special Shabbatot, Passover, Shavuot with the Book of Ruth, and Ninth of Av with the Book of L... More
Lion from BL Add 26896, f. 359v
Marginal drawing of a lion in the outer margin, partially mutilated. Image taken from f. 359v of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) for the Special Shabbatot, Passover, Shavuot with the Book of Ruth, and Ninth of ... More
Leo and Virgo from BL Add 26896, f. 154v
Detail: zodiac signs of Leo (~Arie~) and Virgo (~Betulah~) in medallions, accompanying a liturgical poem (~piyyut~) for the Prayer for dew during Passover. Image taken from f. 154v of Festival prayer book (~mah... More
Aquarius from BL Add 22413, f. 142
Detail: medallion with the zodiac sign of Aquarius (~Deli~), in the Prayer for rain (~Tefilat ha-geshem~, Davidson vol. 2, no. 3466) recited on Shemini Atzeret. Image taken from f. 142 of Festival prayer book f... More
Pisces from BL Add 22413, f. 142v
Medallion with the zodiac sign of Pisces (~Dagim~), in the Prayer for rain (~Tefilat ha-geshem~, Davidson vol. 2, no. 3466) recited on Shemini Atzeret. Image taken from f. 142v of Festival prayer book for Shav... More
Taurus from BL Add 22413, f. 138v
Medallion with the zodiac sign of Taurus (~Shor~), in the Prayer for rain (~Tefilat ha-geshem~, Davidson vol. 2, no. 3466) recited on Shemini Atzeret. Image taken from f. 138v of Festival prayer book for Shavuo... More
Aries from BL Add 22413, f. 138
Detail: medallion of the zodiac sign of Aries (~Taleh~), in the Prayer for rain (~Tefilat ha-geshem~, Davidson vol. 2, no. 3466) recited on Shemini Atzeret. Image taken from f. 138 of Festival prayer book for S... More
Aries from BL Add 26896, f. 153
Zodiac sign of Aries (~Taleh~) in a medallion, accompanying a liturgical poem (~piyyut~) for the Prayer for dew during Passover. Image taken from f. 153 of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) for the Special Shabba... More
Gemini from BL Add 22413, f. 139
Detail: medallion with the zodiac sign of Gemini (~Teomim~), in the Prayer for rain (~Tefilat ha-geshem~, Davidson vol. 2, no. 3466) recited on Shemini Atzeret. Image taken from f. 139 of Festival prayer book f... More
Lion from BL Add 26896, f. 359v
Detail: marginal drawing of a lion in the outer margin, partially mutilated. Image taken from f. 359v of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) for the Special Shabbatot, Passover, Shavuot with the Book of Ruth, and N... More
Dragons from BL Add 26896, f. 353v
Detail: marginal drawing of two dragons with their necks entwined with an inscription incorporated the drawing, ‘Dragon Samael’, perhaps added, in Ruth. Image taken from f. 353v of Festival prayer book (~mahzor... More
Scorpio from BL Add 22413, f. 141
Medallion with the zodiac sign of Scorpio (~Akrav~) depicted as a turtle, in the Prayer for rain (~Tefilat ha-geshem~, Davidson vol. 2, no. 3466) recited on Shemini Atzeret. Image taken from f. 141 of Festival ... More
Deer from BL Add 26896, f. 209v
Detail: marginal drawing of a deer in the lower margin, and a copy the same figure by a later hand. Image taken from f. 209v of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) for the Special Shabbatot, Passover, Shavuot with ... More
Cancer from BL Add 22413, f. 139v
Detail: medallion with the zodiac sign of Cancer (~Sartan~) depicted as a hybrid, in the Prayer for rain (~Tefilat ha-geshem~, Davidson vol. 2, no. 3466) recited on Shemini Atzeret. Image taken from f. 139v of... More
Capricorn from BL Add 22413, f. 142
Detail: medallion with the zodiac signs of Capricorn (~Gedi~), in the Prayer for rain (~Tefilat ha-geshem~, Davidson vol. 2, no. 3466) recited on Shemini Atzeret. Image taken from f. 142 of Festival prayer book... More
Sagittarius from BL Add 22413, f. 141v
Medallion with the zodiac sign of Sagittarius (~Keshet~), in the Prayer for rain (~Tefilat ha-geshem~, Davidson vol. 2, no. 3466) recited on Shemini Atzeret. Image taken from f. 141v of Festival prayer book fo... More
Dog and stork from BL Add 26896, f. 341
Detail: a stork is standing on the back of a dog, at a poem for ~Shavuot~ (Festival of Weeks) (for the poem, see Davidson vol. 1, no. 7694). Image taken from f. 341 of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) for the Sp... More
Sagittarius from BL Add 22413, f. 141v
Detail: medallion with the zodiac sign of Sagittarius (~Keshet~), in the Prayer for rain (~Tefilat ha-geshem~, Davidson vol. 2, no. 3466) recited on Shemini Atzeret. Image taken from f. 141v of Festival prayer... More
Leo from BL Add 22413, f. 140 - Public domain medieval manuscript
Detail: medallion with the zodiac sign of Leo (~Ariyeh~), in the Prayer for rain (~Tefilat ha-geshem~, Davidson vol. 2, no. 3466) recited on Shemini Atzeret. Image taken from f. 140 of Festival prayer book for ... More
Pisces from BL Add 22413, f. 142v
Detail: medallion with the zodiac sign of Pisces (~Dagim~), in the Prayer for rain (~Tefilat ha-geshem~, Davidson vol. 2, no. 3466) recited on Shemini Atzeret. Image taken from f. 142v of Festival prayer book ... More
Cancer from BL Add 22413, f. 139v
Medallion with the zodiac sign of Cancer (~Sartan~) depicted as a hybrid, in the Prayer for rain (~Tefilat ha-geshem~, Davidson vol. 2, no. 3466) recited on Shemini Atzeret. Image taken from f. 139v of Festiva... More
Virgo from BL Add 22413, f. 140
Detail: medallion with the zodiac sign of Virgo (~Betulah~), in the Prayer for rain (~Tefilat ha-geshem~, Davidson vol. 2, no. 3466) recited on Shemini Atzeret. Image taken from f. 140 of Festival prayer book f... More
Aries from BL Add 22413, f. 138
Medallion of the zodiac sign of Aries (~Taleh~), in the Prayer for rain (~Tefilat ha-geshem~, Davidson vol. 2, no. 3466) recited on Shemini Atzeret. Image taken from f. 138 of Festival prayer book for Shavuot (... More
Deer from BL Add 26896, f. 209v
Marginal drawing of a deer in the lower margin, and a copy the same figure by a later hand. Image taken from f. 209v of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) for the Special Shabbatot, Passover, Shavuot with the Book... More
Capricorn and Aquarius from BL Add 22413, f. 142
Medallions with the zodiac signs of Capricorn (~Gedi~) and Aquarius (~Deli~), in the Prayer for rain (~Tefilat ha-geshem~, Davidson vol. 2, no. 3466) recited on Shemini Atzeret. Image taken from f. 142 of Festi... More
Libra from BL Add 22413, f. 140v
detail: medallion with the zodiac sign of Libra (~Moznayim~), in the Prayer for rain (~Tefilat ha-geshem~, Davidson vol. 2, no. 3466) recited on Shemini Atzeret. Image taken from f. 140v of Festival prayer book... More
Hybrids from BL Add 26896, f. 337v
Detail: two decorated initial words with a hybrid in between, at the beginning of a liturgical poem for Shavuot (Festival of Weeks) (for the poem, see Davidson vol. 1, no. 7694). Image taken from f. 337v of Fes... More
Dogs from BL Add 26896, f. 125 - Public domain medieval manuscript
Initial word ~Lel~ (night) accompanied by two dogs, at the beginning of a poem for Passover (for the poem, see Davidson vol. 3, no. 726). Image taken from f. 125 of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) for the Spec... More
Dogs from BL Add 26896, f. 308v
Initial word accompanied by two dogs, at the beginning of a ~piyyut~ in Aramaic for Shavuot (for the poem, see Davidson vol. 1, no. 3197). Image taken from f. 308v of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) for the Spe... More
Historiated initial-word panel from BL Add 22413, f. 148
Historiated initial-word panel of a man holding a pitcher and a cup, at the beginning of a liturgical poem for Simhat Torah (Davidson vol. 1, no. 8400). Image taken from f. 148 of Festival prayer book for Shavu... More
Inhabited initial-word panel from BL Add 26896, f. 78v
Initial-word panel with letters inhabited by hybrids and dragons with foliate scroll frame, at the beginning of ~Shabbat Parah~ (Davidson vol. 1, no. 1830). Image taken from f. 78v of Festival prayer book (~mah... More
The Book of Ruth from BL Add 22413, f. 71
Detail: historiated initial-word panel of the story of Ruth with Ruth, Naomi and Boaz and his servants working of the field, at the beginning of the Book of Ruth to be read at Shavuot. Image taken from f. 71 of... More
Inhabited initial-word panel from BL Add 26896, f. 130v
Initial-word panel ~or~ (light) with letters inhabited by hybrids, and framed by foliate scroll, at the beginning of a poem for Passover (for the poem, see Davidson vol. 1, no. 1962). Image taken from f. 130v o... More
Deer and dog from BL Add 26896, f. 259v
Detail: initial word accompanied by a deer and a dog, at the beginning of a poem for Passover (for the poem, see Davidson vol. 1, no. 2941). Image taken from f. 259v of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) for the S... More
The Book of Ruth from BL Add 22413, f. 71
Historiated initial-word panel of the story of Ruth with Ruth, Naomi and Boaz and his servants working of the field, at the beginning of the Book of Ruth to be read at Shavuot. Image taken from f. 71 of Festiva... More
Sukkot from BL Add 22413, f. 85
Historiated initial-word panel of a man with animal head holding a ~lulav~ and an ~etrog~ (four different kinds of plants with symbolic significance connected to the feast of Sukkot), at the beginning of a litu... More
Decorated initial word from BL Add 26896, f. 166v
Initial word with modest penwork decoration around the letters, at the beginning of a poem for the second day of Passover (for the poem, see Davidson vol. 1, no. 7129). Image taken from f. 166v of Festival pray... More
Receiving the Law from BL Add 22413, f. 3
Detail of a page; historiated initial-word panel of the Receiving the Law with Moses streching his hands for the tablets and Aaron (shown as a Christian bishop) and the Israelites (divided according to sex) wa... More
Receiving the Law from BL Add 22413, f. 3
Historiated initial-word panel of the Receiving the Law with Moses streching his hands for the tablets and Aaron (shown as a Christian bishop) and the Israelites (divided according to sex) waiting at the foot ... More
Book of Ecclesiastes from BL Add 22413, f. 106
Inhabited initial-word panel, ~Divrei~ (The words of the Preacher), at the beginning of Ecclesiastes. The panel includes the first word of the biblical book written with gold letters, as well as the first word ... More
Shemini Atzeret from BL Add 22413, f. 131
Inhabited initial-word panel at the beginning of a ~piyyut~ (liturgical poem) for Shemini Atzeret (Davidson vol. 1, no. 1835). The red panel of the gold letters is surrounded by a larger panel with foliate deco... More
Initial-word panel from BL Add 22413, f. 98
Detail of a page: inhabited initial-word panel with foliate and vine scroll decoration, and a hybrid, at the beginning of a liturgical poem for the second day of Sukkot composed by Eleazar ha-Kallir (Davidson v... More
Inhabited initial-word panel from BL Add 26896, f. 329
Initial-word panel ~Ayyelet~ (doe) inhabited by hybrids, a dog and a deer, at the beginning of a poem for the second day of Shavuot (for the poem, see Davidson vol. 1, no. 2960). Image taken from f. 329 of Fest... More
Book of Ecclesiastes from BL Add 22413, f. 106
Detail of a page: inhabited initial-word panel, ~Divrei~ (The words of the Preacher), at the beginning of Ecclesiastes. Image taken from f. 106 of Festival prayer book for Shavuot (Feast of Weeks) and Sukkot (F... More
Initial-word panel from BL Add 22413, f. 98
Inhabited initial-word panel with foliate and vine scroll decoration, and a hybrid, at the beginning of a liturgical poem for the second day of Sukkot composed by Eleazar ha-Kallir (Davidson vol. 1, no. 13). Im... More
Inhabited initial word from BL Add 26896, f. 368
Initial word ~Ekhah~ (how) inhabited by hybrids and dragons, at the beginning of Lamentations. Image taken from f. 368 of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) for the Special Shabbatot, Passover, Shavuot with the Bo... More
Inhabited initial word from BL Add 26896, f. 32v
Initial word inhabited by hybrids and framed by an arcade with two towers and inhabited by dogs chasing deer, at the beginning of a liturgical poem for ~Shabbat Sheqalim~ (for the poem, see Davidson vol. 1, no.... More
Historiated initial-word panel from BL Add 22413, f. 148
Detail: historiated initial-word panel of a man holding a pitcher and a cup, at the beginning of a liturgical poem for Simhat Torah (Davidson vol. 1, no. 8400). Image taken from f. 148 of Festival prayer book f... More
Stork and dog from BL Add 26896, f. 341
Decorated initial word flanked by two bushes. In the lower margin, a stork is standing on the back of a dog, at a poem for ~Shavuot~ (Festival of Weeks) (for the poem, see Davidson vol. 1, no. 7694). Image take... More
Dogs from BL Add 26896, f. 125 - Public domain medieval manuscript
Detail: initial word accompanied by two dogs, at the beginning of a poem for Passover. Image taken from f. 125 of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) for the Special Shabbatot, Passover, Shavuot with the Book of R... More
Deer and dog from BL Add 26896, f. 259v
Initial word accompanied by a deer and a dog, at the beginning of a poem for Passover (for the poem, see Davidson vol. 1, no. 2941). Image taken from f. 259v of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) for the Special S... More
Inhabited initial-word panel from BL Add 26896, f. 351v
Initial-word panel ~Wa-yehi~ (there was) with its frame inhabited by dragons with foliate scroll tails, at the beginning of Ruth. Image taken from f. 351v of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) for the Special Shab... More
Shemini Atzeret from BL Add 22413, f. 131
Detail of a page: inhabited initial-word panel at the beginning of a ~piyyut~ (liturgical poem) for Shemini Atzeret (Davidson vol. 1, no. 1835). Image taken from f. 131 of Festival prayer book for Shavuot (Feas... More
Inhabited initial-word panel from BL Add 26896, f. 351v
Detail: initial-word panel ~Wa-yehi~ (there was) with its frame inhabited by dragons with foliate scroll tails, at the beginning of Ruth. Image taken from f. 351v of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) for the Spec... More
Dogs from BL Add 26896, f. 361v
Detail: decorated initial word ~Barukh~ (blessed) with six dog busts on top of its letters. Image taken from f. 361v of Festival prayer book (~mahzor~) for the Special Shabbatot, Passover, Shavuot with the Book... More
Ruth from BL Add 19776, f. 119v
Initial word decorated with penwork, on a text page with the end of the Book of Song of Songs, and the beginning of the Book of Ruth, both belonging to the Five Scrolls (~Hamesh Megillot~). Image taken from f. ... More
Inhabited initial-word panel from BL Add 26896, f. 130v
Detail: initial-word panel ~or~ (light) with letters inhabited by hybrids, and framed by foliate scroll, at the beginning of a poem for Passover (for the poem, see Davidson vol. 1, no. 1962). Image taken from f... More
Hybrid from BL Add 26896, f. 337v
Two decorated initial words with a hybrid in between, at the beginning of a liturgical poem for Shavuot (Festival of Weeks) (for the poem, see Davidson vol. 1, no. 7694). Image taken from f. 337v of Festival pr... More
Dragon from BL Add 9405, f. 3v - Public domain medieval manuscript
Pen drawn dragon next to the initial word of the Book of Ruth. Image taken from f. 3v of Biblical readings from a festival prayer book (~mahzor~): Song of Songs, Ruth, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations. Written in Hebrew.