Painting a Pilgrimage

A unique scroll from the 14th century is displayed here to the public for the first time. This scroll - measuring almost eleven meters in length - documents through illustrations and inscriptions the pilgrimage of an Egyptian jew to the Land of Israel. 130 illustrations depict places from Egypt to Lebanon, offering a sense of what the region looked like over 700 years ago. During the research of the scroll, intriguing discoveries were made relating to the the Tomb of the Patriarchs, the Western Wall, and other holy sites. The central illustrations spans some two meters and depicts the Temple Mount; its components reflect the belief shared by Muslims and Jews during the Middle Ages that the Dome of the Rock was built in memory of Solomon's temple.

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Florence, Ms. Magl. III, 43; by courtesy of Ministero dei beni e delle attività culturali e del turismo / Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze, Firenze