Jo Ann and Scott,
Having been born and bred in the (USA) South, I too have heard the story of
the dogwood, but what I'm interested in at the moment are medieval citations
of the Cross made of some sort of composite of different types of wood
instead of one. I'd also like to know who started this tradition. Any
references would be nice.
Clint
Dr. Clinton Atchley
Department of English
Box 7652
Henderson State University
Arkadelphia, AR 71999
Phone: 870.230.5276
Email: [log in to unmask]
URL: http://www.hsu.edu/faculty/atchlec
>-----Original Message-----
>From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2000 4:08 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: wood of the cross
>
>
>It is quite a common story in Appalachia, where dogwood is
>abundant. I remember
>my great-grandmother, who lived in East Tennessee, telling me
>this story when I
>was young.
>
>Scott
>
>[log in to unmask] wrote:
>
>> >From somewhere in the distant past, your request dredged up
>an old story
>> that the cross was made of dogwood. As a result, the tree
>has grown crooked
>> and fragile ever since so that it can never be so used again
>and its white
>> flower is strained with a bloody cross. I don't recall
>where this came
>> from. Sorry.
>>
>> Jo Ann
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Atchley, Clinton <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: [log in to unmask]
><[log in to unmask]>
>> Date: Tuesday, October 17, 2000 4:37 PM
>> Subject: wood of the cross
>>
>> >
>> >In Capitulum 70 of *Jacob's Well* (c. 1500), the preacher
>tells us that the
>> >cross used in the crucifixion was composed of four
>woods--cedar, cypress,
>> >palm, and olive--which represent various things. In the
>12c Old English
>> >version of the *History of the Holy Rood-Tree*, we find the
>cross made of
>> >cypress, cedar, and pine representing the Father, Son, and
>Holy Ghost
>> >respectively. Can anyone tell me who started this
>convention of associating
>> >the cross with a variety of woods? Other examples?
>> >
>> >Dr. Clinton Atchley
>> >Department of English
>> >Box 7652
>> >Henderson State University
>> >Arkadelphia, AR 71999
>> >Phone: 870.230.5276
>> >Email: [log in to unmask]
>> >URL: http://www.hsu.edu/faculty/atchlec
>> >
>
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|