Two Jericho Plates from Semireçye

[Druzhina]

I was surprised to see a plate with the Jericho story from Semireçye in Central Asia found at Verkhne-Nildino was cast from the same mould as the plate with the Jericho story from Semireçye in Central Asia found at Anikovskoe. The gilding is different and there are major differences in the later engraving, particularly of the armour. See a side-by-side comparison of the Anikova and Nildin plates.

The Anikova plate is missing an axe that is present on the Nildin casting.

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Jericho Plates found at Verkhne-Nildino and Anikovskoe, from Semireçye in Central Asia, 9th-10th century.

Druzhina
Plates with figures from Persia and Central Asia

[Temüjin]

oh, very interestign indeed! but do we know for sure this is supposed to show the siege of Jericho, or is it just a nickname?

as for differences, the shield blazon of the defender int he middle on top the tower is different. plus the Anikova dish has one less dead body in front of the castle entrance than the Nildin plate, but it seems those dead bodies might have been added after the casting.

[H. İhsan Erkoç]

Very interesting, I didn't know it had another copy!

[Druzhina]

There is a hypothesis that the story is told in stages from the bottom up. The figure at the window could be Rahab, who helped Joshua's spies. The box carried in the centre could be the Ark of the Covenant, the 7 trumpets could represent the 7 times horns are blown, the soldiers being inside could represent that the city has been captured, but there is no indication of walls falling. The symbols at top could be the Sun and the Moon, which are associated with Joshua, see the Syriac Bible of Paris, BnF MS. Syriaque 341.

It is probably more that there are no other stories that fit than being sure it is Jericho.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

[H. İhsan Erkoç]

Very interesting.

[H. İhsan Erkoç]

I have recently used this plate for the cover of my new book, so again I would like to thank you Druzhina