Book cover
An ivory from the 12th century which is preserved in a public museum in Berlin shows 12 people in two rows. It is a representation of the 12 apostles. Apart from Peter, they do not show any particular individual attributes but they can be identified by documents above the represented. But who has been selected here as an apostle? An investigation of the Gospels indicates that the choice includes Thaddaeus, who is listed among the apostles according to Matthew’s Gospel, and excludes Judas, son of Jakobus, who is mentioned in Luke’s Gospel. But this list is not adhered to completely because of the addition of Paul and the exclusion of Judas Isakariot, which is common in numerous western representations of the apostles. Paul is not just included in the row of the apostles, he appears - together with Peter - in a central position. Both are looking straight ahead while the heads of the most of the other apostles are turned towards them. Nevertheless, the composition appears homogeneous because all have the same clothes and psoture. A second ivory belonging to the apostle-ivory today preserved in Paris shows the twelve houses of Israel. Both ivories presumably adorned covers of related manuscripts, possible manuscripts of the Old and New Testament.