medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Carlos Sastre <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>...has this « mitre » something to do with the actual bishop’s mitre? If
so, is this a way of mocking the condemned by imposing him/her symbols of
power (just as Christ was invested in “purpura” and crowned like the “rex
iudeorum”).
>...is there any relation with the Spanish Auto-da-Fe “capirotes”?
sounds to me like it is a question of what Americans call a "dunce's cap"
--usually a large conical one made out of paper-- which was still in use as a
disciplinary device in schools in the early 20th century.
doesn't Quasimodo wear one in Hugo's _Notre-Dame_ (which i've not read, and am
only remembering Charles Laughton's wonderful performance in the film) ?
i know nothing of your Spanish "capirotes", but using such outlandish headgear
to bring ridicule on a miscreant was surely a widespread and ancient (as your
Jesus example indicates) custom.
part of the text you quoted reminded me of something i heard --i forget
where-- about a large stone with an iron ring embedded in it which is found
just outside the watchman's "house" next to the gate leading into the Bishop's
garden Northeast of the North transept facade at Chartres.
the story is/was that this stone was where those awaiting Justice in the
Bishop's court were chained until their cases could be heard.
though in the "cloister" of the cathedral, it was a very public place, and
could be considered a sort of "pillory", i suppose.
best from here,
christopher
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