[Megilat Ester].
[מגילת אסתר].

Format:

Book

Manuscript

Contributor:

Lex, Charles E., 1851-1917, former owner.

Standardized Title:

Bible. Esther.

Language:

Hebrew

Genre:

Scrolls (information artifacts)

Penn Provenance:

Gift of C.E. Lex, May 1907 (BA 1871, JD 1874, University of Pennsylvania; former card catalog lists name as E.C. Lex; former call number was RBC 220.39T).

Physical Description:

1 roll (8 membranes) : parchment ; 41 x 383.5 cm.

Place of Publication:

[North Africa], [1650?-1799?]

[צפון אפריקה], [1650?-1799?]

Language Note:

Hebrew.

Summary:

This is a scroll of Esther written in North Africa likely during the 17th or 18th centuries.

Notes:

Ms. roll.

Title supplied by cataloger.

Layout: Written in three columns of 24 lines per membrane; ruled in drypoint. For the portion detailing the hanging of the ten sons of Haman, the entire column is written with the names of the sons at the right side; this covers the entire column.

Origin: Written in North Africa during the 17th or 18th centuries (based on comparison of the script to other examples).

Decoration: Many letters are highlighted and decorated with swirls and crowns; for example, the portion detailing the hanging of the ten sons of Haman (6th membrane, 3rd column) and the finishing words of the Megilat Ester ("ולכל זרעו"; 7th membrane, 3rd column).

Script: Written in North African safrut, the ritual script required for writing a Torah scroll. The details which localize the script include rounded upper corners on letters ד and ה, and the center pole of the ש leaning right, and emanating from the left pole.

Cited as:

UPenn Oversize Ms. Roll 2013.

OCLC:

1112607671

Access Restriction:

Access to this item is subject to staff review.