Dear Pippin,
The way I've seen the orant posture (outstetched hands) explained
is an obvious one: to receive from the Lord that which was
requested. Usually the person praying was bowing the head/body,
kneeling, or prostrate (off the top of my head, see _The Catholic
Encyclopedia_ or _The Oxford Companion to the Bible_). The
clasped hands of the Middle Ages was a gesture of feudal
submission, was were covered by the hands of the person receiving
homage and the person undergoing the commendation ceremony
was then kissed as a sign of acceptance into the household.
Again, I'm nowhere near my notes here, but I'm sure you can find
more on each posture in standard reference works.
Kathryn Karczewska
> Feudal commendation, Hindu greeting, and Sumerian prayers are all
> fascinating leads. The only Sumerian figures I know are the ones from Tell
> Asmar, who clasp their hands across each other, either empty or around a
> small beaker. Is this the gesture you meant?
>
> Do we know the reason for the orant posture?
>
> All thoughts gratefully received.
>
> Pippin Michelli, Ph.D
> Assistant Professor of Art History, St Olaf College
> http://www.stolaf.edu/people/michelli/index4.html
>
>
>
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