'Sacra Parallela' by Saint John of Damascus, Byzantine, 9th century, BnF Grec 923

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Selected images of military interest from
Sacra Parallela by Saint John of Damascus, Byzantine, 9th century

David leaving Rabbah f.31r, Death of the sons of Zedekiah	f.38v, Martyrdom David and Goliath f.91r, David beheading Goliath	Death of Sisera f.107r, Mortal wounding of Abimelech by a woman
f.107v, Death of Abimelech
	f.274v, Phineas kills Zimri and Cozbi
f.144v, Elisha fortells the end of the famine to the incredulous official, and the official lies dead. (Note the container of grain.)	f.285v, David before Saul	f.365v, Abigail begging David

Code : Grec 923
Date : 9th century
Type : manuscript
Language : Greek
Format : Parchment - 394 fol. Onciale. - Paint - Modern format
Description : S. Joannis Damasceni sacra parallela
(recensio quae tres libros conflat)
Source : Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des manuscrits, Grec 923

Geography: Made in Constaninople (?)
Medium: Black, red, and brown ink on parchment; 394 folios
Dimensions: 14 5/16 x 10 7/16 x 5 7/8 in. (36.3 x 26.5 x 15 cm)

Saint John of Damascus (ca. 675–749) was an ardent defender of the use of icons; his writings were widely influential in the Byzantine world. He is associated with the Monastery of Mar Saba, near Jerusalem, one of the Christian communities that flourished alongside those of the Muslim faith during the early Islamic period. John and his family—Arab Christians—served the Umayyads, the first generation of Muslim rulers of Byzantium’s southern provinces.
Source

Sacra Parallela is organised alphabetically by theme into 24 chapters (using the Greek alphabet) and then chronologically within each theme.

f.107v is referenced as figure 199 in The military technology of classical Islam by D Nicolle
199. Manuscript, Philistines seize Sampson, 9th century AD (?), Byzantine, Bib. Nat. Cod. Gr. 923, f. 107v, Paris.

f.107v is referenced on p.39, Romano-Byzantine Armies 4th-9th Centuries by David Nicolle and Angus McBride
Marginal from a 9th century Byzantine Bible. In this simple illustration armour appears to be based upon classical Roman prototypes, yet it may still reflect the equipment of some elite guard units in Constantinople. (Bib. Nat., Ms. Gr. 923, f.107v, Paris)