# The Horns of Moses

Two bumps are visible on the top of Moses' skull, with their tips broken off.

In the Book of Genesis, it is said that rays of light shone from Moses' face because he had seen God.

However, a mistranslation led to the widespread depiction of Moses with horns.

Depiction of Moses in the Saint-Denis Bible, Chartres
Paris, Bnf, lat. 55, fol. 38v
Illuminated initial: Moses and the bronze serpent
Manuscript from the Abbey of Anchin
Municipal Library of Douai, photo © Marc Gil