The birth of Samson

The birth of Samson is featured on the second plate of the bottom row. As in the birth of Isaac at the top the midwife is presenting the baby to the mother.

The scene takes place in a palace-like building crowned with towers. Manoah, Samson’s father, sits on the left. He wears the pointed, yellow hat medieval Jews are made to wear to distinguish themselves from Christians – you’ll see it several times on the Verdun altar.

Incidentally Jews are forced to do this in most European countries; in Vienna with the yellow ‘pileus cornutus’ hat (obligatory from 1267), in Italy with a red cape and in France with a red and white cross.