Final answer:
In the Vienna Genesis codex, the scene Eliezer witnessed involves him meeting Rebecca twice as a symbol of divine approval for her to become Isaac's wife. The artwork uses continuous narration to depict this moment, emphasizing symbolic elements rather than realistic depictions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scene between Eliezer and Rebecca, as witnessed in the Vienna Genesis codex illustrations, is a depiction of the Biblical story from the book of Genesis. In this narrative, Eliezer, the servant of the prophet Abraham, is in search of an appropriate bride for Isaac, Abraham's son. Through the use of continuous narration, the artist illustrates the scene where Eliezer arrives in a city in Mesopotamia and encounters Rebecca twice. In her first appearance, she’s seen walking towards the river well, symbolized by her interaction with the personified river. In her second appearance, she is shown offering water to Eliezer and his camels, indicating divine approval for her to be Isaac’s wife. The stylistic choices of the artist reflect the importance of symbolism in Early Christian art, eschewing a realistic spatial presentation in favor of an emphasis on the symbolic message of the narrative.