The Second Beast from the Earth

The illumination is set against a vibrant gold leaf background. On the left, a figure with a green halo, wearing a purple mantle over a white tunic, points a finger toward a central, serpentine beast. This creature has the body of a dragon with large, multi-colored wings, two horn-like protrusions, and a red-spotted back. On the right, a group of six men dressed in tunics of green, red, and purple stand atop a stylized, undulating blue ground that represents the earth. The men have solemn expressions and look toward the beast; the man in the foreground gesture with his hands toward the creature.

This illumination is a page from the Bamberg Apocalypse, an 11th-century manuscript illustrating the Book of Revelation (Apocalypse of John). It depicts the 'Second Beast' (or False Prophet) described in Revelation 13:11-18, which rises from the earth and performs signs to lead humanity toward the worship of the First Beast.