medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Well, actually, being found in a cave tomb already states rich and
privileged. What is unusual about this one is that it was plastered
up behind a wall and not placed in an ossuary. Of course, that's why
some fabric remained. Many of those cave tombs were periodically
flooded. Then, the poor were buried directly into the ground in a
shroud. We do know that.
Early Christian burials followed the same procedure -- direct into
the ground in a shroud. Complete, undisturbed (until subway
construction) skeletons kept turning up in Greece.
What few fabrics have been found seem to have been in plain (tabby)
weave -- some tighter, some looser. Over in Egypt, where fabrics are
better preserved, tabby weave was the norm for fine linen.
I doubt that the rank or wealth would have made much difference when
it came to a shroud. Plain tabby seems most appropriate. You sure
wouldn't use a tapestry, twill or satin weave on a shroud.
TB would take over; it kills much faster than leprosy... if you are
already dead from TB, you're not going to get something else. Then,
psoriasis mistaken for leprosy is extremely unlikely: Psoriasis is
not catching, leprosy is. Honestly, people back then could tell the
difference between a contagious condition and a non-contagious from
empirical observation. Whatever this person had was considered
contagious, that's for sure. No other reason to wall off so
thoroughly to keep the rest of the cave-tomb visitable. (Because,
yes, family's did -- or were supposed to -- return yearly to say
prayers for the dead.)
Then, do remember that this is a newspaper article, not a write up in
a scholarly journal.
Just some thoughts,
Rochelle
>medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Andrew Larsen" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Wednesday, December 16, 2009 3:05 PM
>Subject: Re: [M-R] Jesus Era Shroud Found in Judea
>
>
>>medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>>
>>I was troubled by all of these points as well, especially
>>the assumption that all shrouds were woven the same way. That
>>_is_ the argument here, isn't it?
>>
>>Andrew E. Larsen
>
>I would have thought that the quality of the cloth used for a shroud
>would depend to a very large extent on the economic status of (the
>family of) the deceased. In this case, the deceased is claimed to be
>a high-ranking man but perhaps his diseased condition may have
>influenced what type of cloth was used - perhaps lower class persons
>were employed to lay him out.
>
>There are too many variables and unknown cultural habits for any
>firm conclusions, I would have said.
>
>NONE THE LESS this is VERY exciting and valuable archaeologically speaking!!
>
>
>As for one disease "driving out" another, was it not known since
>ancient times that if an infected open wound discharged "white pus"
>(the so-called "Laudable pus") then the patient would most likely
>recover, but if a woulnd began to discharge the stinking black pus
>(gangerene) then the patient would almost certainly die. So much so
>that I have heard stories of surgeons who would deliberately
>introduce white pus from one patient to another in an attempt to
>prevent gangrene from developing.
>
>BMC
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