medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
One or two suggestions:
Indeed, the man in the Jew's hat is spitting at Jesus, a common image of the taunting during the trial. See esp. images in the various copies of the Speculum Humanae Salvationis/Mirror of Human Salvation, where the association of this act with the Jews is exaggerated. This image provides a balance to the hand pointing at Jesus, also in a sign of taunting on the Cross (think: "he claimed he was the Son of God").
The hand on the right appears to be holding a bundle of sticks or some other device used for beating Jesus (again, see various images in the Speculum: http://cdm.csbsju.edu/cdm/ref/collection/HMMLClrMicr/id/19645 -- the upper left corner, from a manuscript in Cologne, Germany). Finally, the two crossed rods may be a reminder of the Crowning with thorns, which also appears in manuscripts of the Speculum with four men pushing down on the crown with crossed rods (http://cdm.csbsju.edu/cdm/ref/collection/HMMLClrMicr/id/19646, again the upper left corner) .
Peace,
Matt H.
Curator, Austria/Germany Study Center; Rare Book Cataloger, Hill Museum & Manuscript Library (HMML)
Saint John's University, Collegeville, Minnesota 56321-7300
Phone: 320-363-2795; Fax: 320-363-3222
http://www.hmml.org
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ut in omnibus glorificetur Deus (1 Peter 4:11 / RB 57.9)
-----Original Message-----
From: medieval-religion - Scholarly discussions of medieval religious culture [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Judith K. Golden
Sent: Monday, March 09, 2015 8:17 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [M-R] ID for an Instrument of the Passion
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Going back to the crossed rods...there are images of Christ crowned with thorns, with two men holding crossed poles/rods, placing or pushing the crown of thorns on to the head of Christ, as in Princeton University Library ms Garrett 57, fol. 10r.
http://ica.princeton.edu/images/princeton/ga57.010rb.jpg
Judith K. Golden, Ph.D.
Reader
Index of Christian Art
A3 McCormick Hall
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ 08544-1018
[log in to unmask]
609-258-7144
-----Original Message-----
From: medieval-religion - Scholarly discussions of medieval religious culture [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ms B M Cook
Sent: Monday, March 09, 2015 4:38 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [M-R] ID for an Instrument of the Passion
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
A slightly off topic comment - Why can't we have reproductions of this on our Easter cards ? They'd be an improvement on the ubiquitous rabbit!!
Brenda
Brenda M. Cook
Independent Scholar
-----Original Message-----
From: John Dillon
Sent: Monday, March 09, 2015 4:41 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [M-R] ID for an Instrument of the Passion
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Just so. As noted in Wikipedia, s.v. "Arma Christi"
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arma_Christi>:
"Sometimes the heads of figures from the Passion are shown, including Judas, Caiaphas, or the man who mocked Christ spitting in Christ's face."
Since not all will take Wikipedia at face value all the time, here's a little confirmation from BL, MS Royal 6 E VI, fol. 15r, that what's depicted is spittle and not smoke (see at center, second row from top: _sputum in facie christi_):
http://www.bl.uk/catalogues/illuminatedmanuscripts/ILLUMINBig.ASP?size=big&IllID=45207
Some other instances of the image:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Heures_de_Mar%C3%A9chal_de_Boucicaut_-_Arma_Christi.jpg
http://www.sagen.at/fotos/showphoto.php/photo/35512/size/big/cat/
http://www.wallraf.museum/uploads/tx_imagecycle/Umbrisch_ChristusSchmerzensmann_WRM_0744_01.jpg
Stephen is of course quite right about the Jew's hat.
Best again,
John Dillon
On 03/08/15, Diana Hiller wrote:
> The chap in the hat is, I suggest, spitting on Christ: Matthew 26:67
> for example.
> Diana
>
>
>
> On Mon, Mar 9, 2015 at 2:28 PM, stephen Morris
> <[log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask])" target="1">[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and
> > culture
> > Rick:
> >
> > I think I have some of the possible answers (see below), but not
> > all. I am eagerly awaiting to see what others say; this is a
> > fascinating thread!
> >
> > The hands are those of the soldiers who slapped and buffeted Christ
> > while he was blinded, taunting him, "Tell us who buffeted you, if
> > you are a prophet."
> >
> > The man with the strange hat is wearing what's commonly called a
> > "Jew's Hat," which usually indicates a prophet or Old Testament
> > figure but here I think it indicates that he is Ciaphas, the high
> > priest who handed Jesus over to the Romans. Or Annas, his fellow
> > priestly authority but I'm not sure what the smoke signifies.
> > Perhaps his false testimony? Or his inadvertent prophecy that is was
> > better for one man to die on behalf of the people?
> >
> > Those are definitely the 3 nails above the head of the Virgin.
> >
> > One of the crossed sticks would have been the reed given to Christ
> > as an imitation sceptre during the mockery by the soldiers. The
> > other would be the reed on which a vinegar-soaked sponge was raised
> > to his lips during the Crucifixion.
> >
> > I'm not sure why those particular numbers on the dice. Maybe 4
> > evangelists, 5 senses, and 6 i-don't-know-what. Weren't 15 candles
> > used at Tenebrae during Holy Week?
> >
> > Like I said, I'm looking to forward to what others have to say.
> >
> > Stephen
> >
> >
> > On March 8, 2015, at 10:22 PM, richard legault
> > <[log in to unmask](javascript:main.compose()> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and
> > culture
> >
> > I'd be curious to know what people make of the less obvious symbols
> > such
> > as:
> >
> > The three disembodied right hands to the right of the cross. Is one
> > holding a barely visible purse, containing perhaps 30 pieces of silver?
> > The smoke emanating from the bust of I'm not sure whom. Could this
> > be Pilate whose disembodied hands are being washed? If so, why the
> > smoke and the odd-looking headwear?
> > The three somethings atop the halo of the woman. Three Nails perhaps?
> > The crossed sticks between the woman and the cross.
> > The dice represent the soldiers' casting of lots for Jesus' robe,
> > but why fifteen, the sum of four, five and six?
> >
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