May 9, 2014
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606–1669) painted Belshassar's Feast around 1636-8. It is now in the National Gallery, London. Belshazzar, King of Babylon, was hosting a banquet. Suddenly a hand appeared and wrote "Mene mene tekel u-parsin" on the wall. Daniel was summoned: he said "Mene" meant that God would end Belshazzar's rule; "Tekel" meant that God found him greedy; "Parsin" meant that his kingdom would be split up. Later that night, Belshazzar was killed and Persia took over Babylon.