L'eroe ebraico Eleazar Maccabee nella battaglia di Beth Zaccaria nel 162 a.C. si trova sotto un elefante da guerra che porta un castello in legno presidiato da soldati medievali. Affreschi tardogotici nella volta a costine del chiostro medievale della cattedrale del Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta a Bressanone-Bressanone, alto Adige, Trentino-alto Adige, Italia.
4288 x 2848 px | 36,3 x 24,1 cm | 14,3 x 9,5 inches | 300dpi
Data acquisizione:
8 giugno 2008
Ubicazione:
Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, Duomo di Bressanone, Brixner Dom, Bressanone-Brixen, South Tyrol,
Altre informazioni:
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Bressanone-Brixen, South Tyrol, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy: at the Battle of Beth Zechariah in 162 BC, Eleazar Maccabee thrusts a sharp weapon into the unprotected belly of an enemy war elephant - seconds before he also dies when it collapses on top of him. Amongst 14th and 15th century Late Gothic and Early Renaissance frescoes on walls and ribbed ceiling vaults in the medieval cloister attached to the Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta (Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption). The war elephant is depicted with tapering legs, fluted ears, tiny tusks and a trunk with a bell-shaped end by a medieval painter who can never have seen an elephant. Despite Eleazar Maccabee wearing a suit of medieval armour, the fresco depicts a biblical incident that took place at least 1, 500 years earlier: the Battle of Beth Zechariah fought in 162 BC between 20, 000 Jewish rebels and a Seleucid army of 55, 000 Greeks and Syrians equipped with chariots and 30 war elephants. Eleazar, younger brother of rebel leader Judah Maccabee, believed one elephant carried the Seleucid king and planned to kill it to strengthen Jewish resolve - but the battle ended in a heavy Jewish defeat and a new siege of Jerusalem. Despite that, Eleazar was hailed as a hero, gaining the posthumous nickname ‘Avaran’ (Piercer). The spa city of Bressanone-Brixen was founded in 901 AD, becoming the seat of powerful Prince Bishops whose influence forged links between southern Germany and northern Italy. South Tyrol became part of Italy after the 1914-18 First World War. D0723.A8645
