The Fall of Babylon (Bamberg Apocalypse)

A vertical composition divided into two zones against a gold-leaf background. In the upper register, a winged angel with a green halo emerges from a stylized cloud formation, extending a hand toward the earth. Below, a fortified city with turreted walls is depicted in an inverted, crumbling state, splitting open to reveal architectural interiors. On the left, a small group of figures stands in a gesture of alarm; on the right, a larger group of figures, including three kings wearing crowns, stand with hands raised to their faces in postures of mourning and lamentation. The color palette features vibrant mineral tones of red, blue, green, and deep purple set against the burnished gold.

This illumination is derived from the Bamberg Apocalypse, a 11th-century manuscript containing a commentary on the Book of Revelation by Adso of Montier-en-Der. It illustrates the apocalyptic prophecy of the destruction of the Great City, interpreted in the Middle Ages as the inevitable fall of earthly vanities and centers of political power.