Haggadah Collection of excerpts from the Bible, Mishnah, Midrash, as well as psalms, prayers, legends, and songs recited at the seder ritual on Passover eve. Commemorates exodus from Egypt and, in Temple times, a thanksgiving for the acquisition of the Land of Israel. Historiated A decorated and illuminated letter with a illustration referring to the text. Illuminated Manuscripts Books written by hand, decorated with paintings and ornaments of different kinds. They may enclose the whole of the text space or occupy only a small part of the margin of the page.
Manuscripts are for the most part written on skin, parchment, or vellum.
From the fourteenth century, paper was used for less sumptuous copies. Although a number of books have miniatures and ornaments executed in outline drawing only, the majority are fully colored. By the fifteenth century illumination tended more and more to follow the lead given by painters, and with the invention of printing the illuminated book gradually went out of fashion. During the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, illuminations were added to printed books. Indigo A blue dye obtained from various shrubs or herbs of the genus Indigofera in the pea family.