10/28/2022
1493 page from the Nuremberg Chronicle depicting the destruction of S***m and Gomorrah.
The Nuremberg Chronicle is an illustrated encyclopedia consisting of world historical accounts, as well as accounts told through biblical paraphrase. Subjects include human history in relation to the Bible, illustrated mythological creatures, and the histories of important Christian and secular cities from antiquity. Finished in 1493, it was originally written in Latin by Hartmann Schedel. It is one of the best-documented early printed books—an incunabulum—and one of the first to successfully integrate illustrations and text. The Chronicle was first published in Latin on July 12, 1493 in the city of NurembergAn estimated 1,400 to 1,500 Latin copies were published. A document from 1509 records that 539 Latin versions and 60 German versions had not been sold. Approximately 400 Latin and 300 German copies survived into the twenty-first century.[6] They are scattered around the world in museums and collections.
This illustration concludes the Second Age of the World. One of the angels who had been the guest of Lot at S***m is leading the old man by the hand and pointing to the distant mountains. Lot’s two daughters follow closely behind, but his wife has tarried, and contrary to injunction, has turned about to witness the catastrophe. And here just outside the city gate she has been changed to a pillar of salt. Her body has become a well-rounded cone, while her head and even her headdress remain unchanged. Within the walls fire and brimstone are raining down upon the city as from a bursting sun. Medieval steeples are falling from their foundations, and the city is in flames.