medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
I've just had an idea about the "parasols" being carried in procession
on this puzzling pilgrim badge at Chartres:
http://www.christophersbookroom.com/cc/badges/forgeais/forgeais4_115.jpg
Have a look at:
http://soemer-digital.de/libori/bilder/pavonicaudafaer_03web.jpg
This is from a recent year's procession in honor of St. Liborius at
Paderborn. The object being carried in front of the Liborischrein is a
_flabellum_ ('fan'), a ceremonial object originally used to ward off
insects (and/or miasmas?) from a holy relic or person. Here are a few
more views of Paderborn's _flabellum_:
http://soemer-digital.de/libori/bilder/libori05_soproz19.jpg
http://soemer-digital.de/libori/bilder/libori05_soproz20.jpg
As you can see from that last view, Paderborn's _flabellum_ is made of
peacock feathers (they're very proud of it). But _flabella_ have been
made of other materials too. Here are a few examples:
http://www.catholic-forum.com/Saints/ncd03303.htm
http://www.enec.it/lealididio/fra/galleria27.html
http://www.doaks.org/ByzImages/EBS3.html
http://www.architecture.ge/jewellery/mid_ages04.html
http://www.davidrumsey.com/amica/amico1256497-105778.html#record
various:
http://www.victoriana.com/Fans/historyofthefan.html
The size, shape, and manner of being carried of Paderborn's _flabellum_
reminded me of the "parasols" from Chartres.
Just a thought.
Best,
John Dillon
Cessatio flabelli, prandium pulicelli?
On Friday, 22 July 2005, at 10:54 hrs., christopher crockett wrote (Re:
Offertorium - 31):
> among the surviving pilgrims' badges from Chartres
>
> http://ariadne.org/cc/badges/newbadges.html
>
> is at least one which depicts a procession in which a cult statue
> of
> the V & C
> is being carried on a bier, with two accompanying figures carrying
> what
> for
> all the world look like long handled spades but which are likely
> something
> else
>
> http://ariadne.org/cc/badges/forgeais/forgeais4_115.jpg
>
>
> umbrellas or parasols is what first occured to me (i've seen
> pictures of
> Thibetan processions with guys carrying parasols), but some sort
> of
> banner
> might be possible, given the truely wretched state of the "style"
> of
> this kind
> of folk art depiction and the common modren tradition of carrying
> banners in
> processions.
>
> there was, at Chartres, an officer of the chapter styled (i believe)
> _vexillifer_ who appears quite rarely in the documents and never
> in any
> context which makes it clear what his duties are, beyond the
> obvious
> one.
>
>
> are such "banners" and their carriers a common feature in the
> liturgicaldocuments describing processions, pre-1300?
>
> any further thoughts you liturgists might have on what's being
> depicted
> on
> those Chartres badges would certainly be welcome to the liturgically
> challenged on this list.
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