The Punishment of Korah, Dathan and Abiram

In the middle of this wall a triumphal arch carries a line from the Letter to the Hebrews, cut in Roman capitals. It says that no one takes this honour on himself unless he is called by God, as Aaron was. The honour meant is the priesthood, and the whole fresco is built to prove that point.

The story comes from the Book of Numbers. Korah, Dathan and Abiram led a revolt against Moses and his brother Aaron, the high priest. Read from right to left, the rebels first try to stone Moses, and Joshua steps in between. In the centre the rival priests swing their censers while Moses raises his rod to call down punishment. On the left the ground opens under the ringleaders, and above them Korah's sons, whom the Bible says were spared, float clear on small clouds.

Botticelli painted the wall in 1481 and 1482, for a pope's chapel, and he dressed the old high priest accordingly. Aaron stands at the altar with a censer, wearing a triple crown like the papal tiara. Directly across the chapel, on the opposite wall, Christ is handing Saint Peter the keys.