For what purpose did Michelangelo add each Sibyls or Prophetesses to the ceiling of the Sistine chapel? This is an explanation to why they're there in the first place. > The latter, although belonging to the pagan world, are represented here because of their prophetic gifts, in this way extending the wait for Redemption from the chosen people to all mankind. I'd imagine they each have some sort of story - or at least represent some different part of the pre-redemption world and pointed in some vague way to Christ. But what is the vague way? Here are the Sibyls: - Erythrean Sibyl - Persian Sibyl - [Libyan Sibyl](http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/cappella-sistina/volta/sibille-e-profeti/sibilla-libica.html) - Cumaean Sibyl - [Delphic Sibyl](http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/cappella-sistina/volta/sibille-e-profeti/sibilla-delfica.html) Source

The first stanza of the medieval Latin hymn *Dies Iræ* is as follows: > Dies iræ, dies illa > > Solvet sæclum in favilla, > > Teste David cum Sibylla. While the beginning is clearly taken from the prophet Zephaniah : > Dies iræ dies illa, dies tribulationis et angustiæ, dies calamitatis et miseriæ, dies tenebrarum et caliginis, dies nebulæ et turbinis (Zef 1:15) I am wondering to whom the names the last line refer and what specific testimonies are ment. For **David** the Old Testament king of Israel comes to mind – but is there any specific testimony concerned with the day of wrath? For ***Sibylla***, I do not even find her name in the bible. Wikipedia refers to some ancient greek oracles ; but why should they be named in a christian hymn. Is there a definitive interpretation? Who are these two and can their specific testimonies identified?