Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

In immediate proximity to the capitals S02MS02 (tree) and S03MS03 (Babylon) the Dream of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar is represented: “[...] to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; [...] until you have learned that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” (Dan 4: 31-32). The north side shows the city of Babylon with double round-arched gate and heads of inhabitants appearing above its walls. On the east side the king asks his wise men to interpret his dream, but they turn away from him. The prophet Daniel instead interprets the dream in the right way. On the west side the king is turned into an animal; the head of the figure is destroyed but the mount of his crown is still visible. On the south side the kingship of Nebuchadnezzar, who has recognized the power of God, is restored to him. He holds a scroll with his name. The inscription at the top of the impost block cites verses 29-32 of the Book of Daniel (chapter 4):
North side: NO[NN]E HAEC E[ST] BABILON[IA] MAGNA QVA[M]
West side: EGO HAEDIFICAVIT TIBI DICITVR NABUCHODONODOR
South side: REX REGNUM TVV[M] TRANSIT A TE
East side: FENU[M] VT BOS COMEDES ET SEPTE[M] TE[M]PORA MVTABVNTVR SUP[ER] TE
(“Is not this great Babylon?/ To you, King Nebuchadnezzar, it is spoken/ the kingdom has departed from you/ You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven times shall pass over you“.)
The representation of Babylon corresponds to the first quotation on the impost, but the rest of the inscription is not closely correlated with the underlying scenes.

Babel Babylon Daniel wise-men ox dream Nebuchadnezzar inscription TE SUP[ER] MVTABVNTVR TE[M]PORA SEPTE[M] ET COMEDES BOS VT NO[NN]E HAEC E[ST] BABILON[IA] MAGNA QVA[M] EGO HAEDIFICAVIT TIBI DICITVR NABUCHODONODOR REX REGNUM TVV[M] TRANSIT A TE FENU[M]