The Joshua Roll

The Joshua Roll (Rome, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Pal. gr. 431), a tenth-century illuminated scroll of the first half of the Old Testament book of Joshua, is among the finest examples of Byzantine book illumination. Previously overlooked, the texts accompanying the pictures along with other primary sources explain the miniatures. A critical edition of the Greek with English translation shows how elegantly and accurately the artist illustrated the epic story of Joshua’s conquest of the Promised Land. Details of iconography and style suggest that the Joshua Roll is the copy of a cartoon for a triumphal column, which likely was intended to honor the exploits of Basil the Bastard, chamberlain or chief minister of four emperors, Constantine VII, Nicephorus Phocas, John Tzimisces and the young Basil II.