Levite Images

"Hebraique": Costume of Hebrew People: Priests and Levites - lithograph by Racinet after drawing by Waret, published by Firmin Didot, Paris, 1878

13, 14, 16 & 17: The catecon, the basic article of Levite costume. It was shorter than that worn by the Egyptians, so Moses decreed that a long tunic should be worn on top of it.

19: A fitted undergarment with tight sleeves, which in, this case stops at the knees. It was worn by the priests under their ceremonial costume.

15, 16 & 17: Examples of belts worn by the Levites. They were often made of snake skin

(15 & 16), following Egyptian custom. Moses did not specify whether these should be colored like those worn by the high priests or whether they should be all white. The belts were wrapped around the body several times and the ends hung down.

From Augustin Calmet's great Bible Dictionary: Het algemeen groot historisch, oordeelkundig, chronologisch, geografisch, en letterlyk naam - en woord-boek van den gantschen H. Bybel . . . (Leiden: Samuel Luchtmans, 1725-27) (here 1725)

Top: The costume of the Levites

Bottom: The white robe of the High Priest for the solemn Day of Atonement

Engravings by Charles-Nicolas Cochon, from: Michel-François Dandré Bardon, Costume des anciens peuples (Paris: 1772-1774), vol. 2 (1774)

Top: Costume of the Levites (based on Calmet)

Bottom: Young Levites lighting incense for a priest (Cohen)

_______________________________________________________________

All images provided by Jim Wald