The Nuremberg Chronicle contains two images of the city of Jerusalem, both of which emphasize the importance of geography to the telling of historical events. The first illustration is a topographical view of the Old Testament city (17r), while the second depiction follows its destruction by Nebuchadnezzar in 589 BCE, is spread over two pages (63v-64r). This second image expands on the first, providing a more detailed depiction of the city’s architecture and the surrounding landscape. However, the damaged buildings and pyres of flame are clear indicators of the siege that occurred between the two images.
While the Nuremberg Chronicle was lauded for its depictions of contemporary cities across Europe and the Middle East, its primary purpose was to compile a world history, of which biblical history is a major component. The emphasis on place, especially by using the same conventions to depict Jerusalem as any other city, grounds these ancient tales in contemporary reality. A reader can easily compare Jerusalem to the modern cities with which they would have been personally familiar, adding relatability and comprehension to world history and biblical narratives.