Ahava Oct 10, 2010 10:33pm

Belshazzar's Feast was painted by Rembrandt van Rijn around 1635. The source for the painting is the story of Belshazzar and the writing on the wall in the Old Testament Book of Daniel. The text on the wall is written vertically, rather than horizontally. It reads, "mena, mena, tekel, uparsin," which are all measurements of currency in ancient Babylon at the time. Daniel interrepted the words as folllows, "Mina, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; shekel, you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting; half-mina, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians." The prophesy proved to be true. Two days later, October 12, 539 B.C., the Persian armies overthrew the city of Babylon.

Today, the famous painting is in the National Gallery of London. The archaelogical artifact, Cylinder of Nabonidus dating from 556-539 BC records prove of the existence of King Belshazaar, the son of Nabonidus.

Phenomonal upload! thanks Al. :D