Story of Jacob, Laban searches for the idol in the tent of Rachel

The story of the renewed conflict between Jacob and his father-in-law Laban is represented on this capital.

Jacob’s wife, Rachel, had taken and hidden her father’s idols (east side) and Laban then searches for her in the tent of the his daughter (north side). The south side contains Rachel’s sister Leah; the standing male figure in a heavy mantle on the west side has been interpreted as one of the sons of Jacob.

The scene is, as most of the other capitals in the Jacob cycle are, identified by inscriptions: LABAN / LIA / RACHEL / IDOLUS.

conflict daughter father father-in-law idol IDOLUS inscription Jacob Laban Leah LIA mantle Rachel son sister wife tent