3-039-799 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

The Lamb Defeating the Ten Kings, about 1220-1235. Additional Info:This miniature once formed part of a lavishly illustrated manuscript containing a commentary by Beatus of Liébana on the Bible's highly enigmatic text concerning the end of the world. The portion of the Apocalypse it originally illustrated describes a vision of a great battle taking place between the Lamb of God and ten kings who personify the ten horns of the beast the Harlot of Babylon rides. In the upper register, the Lamb decapitates each king as he approaches, while in the lower compartment a writhing serpent begins to devour the corpses of the kings who have already encountered the Lamb. The illumination is unusual for its balanced combination of elegant forms and gruesome subject matter.