The First Fratricide

Cain, having killed his brother, fled in despair from the face of the Lord as a fugitive to the eastern regions. Genesis 4. original Latin: "Cain occiso fratre desperabundus fugit à facie Domini profugus ad orientalem plagam."

A woodcut illustration depicting the biblical story of Cain and Abel. In the foreground, two altars are shown: on the left, smoke from an offering curls downward toward the ground; on the right, smoke rises straight up toward the heavens. Two figures kneel in prayer before the altars. In the upper left, God is depicted in the clouds wearing a papal-style tiara. In the background to the right, a scene of violence shows one figure striking another with a club. Further in the distance, a lone figure walks away across a landscape.

Cain, after the fatal beating of his brother, in despair flees from the face of the Lord. Genesis 4. original German: "Cain nach seines brůders todtschlag verzweifelt/ fleucht vorm angesicht des Herrn."