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The detail that Mary was weaving a new veil for the Temple is found in the Infancy Gospel of James (Chapter 10): "And there was a council of the priests, saying, “Let’s make a veil for the Temple of the Lord.” And the priest said, “Call the pure virgins from the tribe of David to me.” And the officers went out and searched and found seven. And the priest remembered that the child Mary was from the tribe of David and pure before God. And the officers went out and brought her. And they brought them into the Temple of the Lord, and the priest said, “Cast lots for me to see who will spin the gold and the white and the linen and the silk and the violet and the scarlet and the true purple.” And the lot for the true purple and scarlet fell to Mary. And she took them into her house. This was the time that Zechariah fell silent, and Samuel took his place until Zechariah could speak. And Mary took the scarlet and was spinning it" (translation, Mark Mattison). According to Mishnah, Shekalim 8.5, it took 82 girls to weave each set of veils and a new set was woven each year. Antiochus and Titus each carried off the Temple veils: Antiochus may have deposited his in the temple of Zeus at Olympia, Titus exhibited his in his palace. There is much detail on the symbolism of the weaving in Philo and Josephus. More in The Gate of Heaven by Margaret Barker (2008).
David Critchley
[log in to unmask]"> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: subscribe medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: unsubscribe medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/medieval-religionIn Byzantine iconography, she's shown spinning yarn. IIRC (and I may not), there is a tradition that she was weaving a new veil for the Temple. But, more to the point, it's a Classical trope: a good, pious woman spends her time secluded at home weaving (which in the ancient world was a very involved process, having to make thread and yarn itself). This continues to be the depiction in Eastern iconography for the Annunciation (I'm sure there are variations, particularly from the 18th century when iconographers were under a great deal of Western influence). When I taught modern World History to 9th graders, I put together a slide show of Renaissance images of the Virgin and I seem to recall that a few of the late Gothic and early Renaissance ones showed her with thread and then there was a shift to her having a book. I took that shift to indicate a shift in intellectual culture with the advent of humanism.
********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: subscribe medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: unsubscribe medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/medieval-religionmedieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: subscribe medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: unsubscribe medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/medieval-religionAnd the first example I have seen of someone knitting (with multiple needles, looked like she was making socks) features Mary. My own interest is, when she is reading, where is the Baby Jesus? I recall one charming illumination in which an au-pair angel is teaching him to walk ...Meg
From: medieval-religion - Scholarly discussions of medieval religious culture <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Kurt Sherry <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2020 12:14 PM
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Subject: Re: [M-R] book announcement: The Virgin Mary's Book at the AnnunciationCAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and cultureCongratulations. Here's a question (maybe you get into in the book), when did Mary go from spinning yarn to reading a book?
********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: subscribe medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: unsubscribe medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/medieval-religionmedieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: subscribe medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: unsubscribe medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/medieval-religionDear all,Greetings from Norway and I hope this message finds you well and healthy in these strange times. I would like to call your attention to the recent publication of my monograph, The Virgin Mary's Book at the Annunciation (Boydell & Brewer). The book can be ordered directly from the publisher at a reduced cost: https://boydellandbrewer.com/the-virgin-mary-s-book-at-the-annunciation.html with code BB135 at checkout. Also consider asking your institutional library to order a copy.
Short description of the monograph: "An overlooked aspect of the iconography of the Annunciation investigated - Mary’s book.The Annunciation scene remains one of the most recognizable scenes in western Christianity: the angel Gabriel addressing the Virgin Mary, capturing the moment when Christ becomes incarnate. But one consistent detail has evaded our scrutiny - Mary’s book. What was she reading? What does her book mean? This innovative study traces the history of Mary’s book at the Annunciation from the early Middle Ages through to the Reformation, focusing on a wide variety of religious treatises, visionary accounts, and
art. It argues that the Virgin provided a sophisticated model of reading
and interpretation that was foundational to devotional practices across all spectrums of society in medieval England, and especially for enclosed female readers."Tomorrow, Tuesday 25 March, the Feast of the Annunciation, at 15:00 (GMT+1, Europe/Oslo) there will be a virtual book launch. If you would like to attend you can register using the information below. The webinar can be joined or left at any time. See the last link to convert the time to your own time zone.
Choose which way you want to join the event:
1. Join via Website: https://laurasaetveitmiles.clickmeeting.com/book-launch-the-virgin-mary-s-book-at-the-annunciation
2. Join via Phone:Oslo+47 (21) 953-760København+45 (7) 873-0919Berlin+49 (157) 3598-9002
Conference PIN: 194354#
See all numbers: https://utilities.clickmeeting.com/phone-bridge/Listener/998349945
3. Join via Mobile Application:Room ID: 998-349-945
Convert start time to your timezone: http://www.clickmeeting.com/converter/998349945
Dear all,I would like to call your attention to the recent publication of my monograph, The Virgin Mary's Book at the Annunciation (Boydell & Brewer). Please find attached a discount flyer with more information about the book, and for ordering directly from the publisher at a reduced cost: https://boydellandbrewer.com/the-virgin-mary-s-book-at-the-annunciation.html with code BB135 at checkout. Also consider asking your institutional library to order a copy.
Short description of the monograph: "An overlooked aspect of the iconography of the Annunciation investigated - Mary’s book.The Annunciation scene remains one of the most recognizable scenes in western Christianity: the angel Gabriel addressing the Virgin Mary, capturing the moment when Christ becomes incarnate. But one consistent detail has evaded our scrutiny - Mary’s book. What was she reading? What does her book mean? This innovative study traces the history of Mary’s book at the Annunciation from the early Middle Ages through to the Reformation, focusing on a wide variety of religious treatises, visionary accounts, and
art. It argues that the Virgin provided a sophisticated model of reading
and interpretation that was foundational to devotional practices across all spectrums of society in medieval England, and especially for enclosed female readers."Tomorrow, Tuesday 25 March, the Feast of the Annunciation, at 15:00 (GMT+1, Europe/Oslo) there will be a virtual book launch. If you would like to attend you can register using the information below. The webinar can be joined or left at any time. See the last link to convert the time to your own time zone.
Choose which way you want to join the event:
1. Join via Website: https://laurasaetveitmiles.clickmeeting.com/book-launch-the-virgin-mary-s-book-at-the-annunciation
2. Join via Phone:Oslo+47 (21) 953-760København+45 (7) 873-0919Berlin+49 (157) 3598-9002
Conference PIN: 194354#
See all numbers: https://utilities.clickmeeting.com/phone-bridge/Listener/998349945
3. Join via Mobile Application:Room ID: 998-349-945
Convert start time to your timezone: http://www.clickmeeting.com/converter/998349945--
Dr. Laura Saetveit MilesEnglish Literature
Førsteamanuensis, Institutt for Fremmedspråk, Universitet i BergenAssociate Professor, Department of Foreign Languages, University of Bergen
www.laurasaetveitmiles.com
--
Dr. Laura Saetveit MilesEnglish Literature
Førsteamanuensis, Institutt for Fremmedspråk, Universitet i BergenAssociate Professor, Department of Foreign Languages, University of Bergen
www.laurasaetveitmiles.com