Illustrations from an 11th century French Psychomachia

[Druzhina]

Illustrations from
Prudentius' Psychomachia
Lyon, Bibliotheque du Palais des Arts, Ms. 22, 11th century

Prudentius: Abraham & Lot:
. Prudentius: Lot is captured by the four heathen kings (kite shields?)
. Prudentius: The victors drive the captives
. Prudentius: Abraham pursuing the predators
. Prudentius: Lot returns, with sheep, recovered from the enemy

Prudentius: Patience & Anger
. Prudentius: Anger prepares to throw a spear at Patience
. Prudentius: Patience deflects Anger's spear
. Prudentius: Anger's missiles lie purposeless on the ground
. Prudentius: Anger hits Patience with her sword
. Prudentius: Anger's sword breaks into pieces
. Prudentius: Anger kills herself with her sword

I have included the text of Prudentius' poem so that it can be seen what latitude the artist has or what is prescribed by poem.
Patience's armour (thoraca) is described as scaly iron (squamosaque ferri), but there is not much attempt to portray Patience's armour consistently across the images.
The latin captions, although usually present in the illustrated manuscripts, are not part of the poem. Although the caption has Anger (aka Wrath) stab herself with a sword (gladio) the artist follows the poem by drawing a spear (cuspide).

Mirror Site:
Prudentius: Abraham & Lot:
Prudentius: Patience & Anger

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Very noce