QUAGLIE. – The capture of the quails, which was one of the foods provided by the Lord to the Hebrews in the desert, as narrated in Ex. 16:13, was sculpted on several Christian sarcophagi, namely on that of the Museum of Aix in Provence (Wilpert, Sarcofagi, p. 244 and pl. 97, 2–4); on that of Pisa, perhaps originating from Oscia (id., op. cit., p. 244 and pl. 157, 2); and on a sarcophagus lid in Avignon (id., op. cit., p. 244 and pl. 209, 2). The scene is also found in places of worship, as in the mosaics of S. Maria Maggiore (Wilpert, Mosaiken, pl. 19, 1); it was likewise represented in a basilica in Spain, probably Tarragona, as attested by the verses composed by Prudenzio (Dyttochaeum, no. 11).
Quails
Cite this article
“QUAGLIE.” Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. X (1953), p. 223. Azione Romana digital edition, https://azioneromana.com/article/quaglie.