medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
There is a splendid mid-15th century tapestry of Alexander the Great in the Palazzo Doria-
Pamphili in Rome, attributed, I believe, to the workshop of Pasquier Grenier in Tournai, which
shows several legendary feats of Alexander, including his flight into the sky in a metal cage,
which has several griffins attached to it by chains. Alexander supposedly made them fly
upwards by holding a ham on a pole above their heads, just out of reach!
Cheers,
Jim
On 27 Nov 2008 at 17:24, Goskar T. wrote:
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and
> culture
>
> Unrelated though not completely disconnected to my work on the
> symbolism of peacocks and chalices is what griffons meant to people of
> the early Middle Ages in particular. I assume some of the ancient
> importance continued in some way, then to take on its role as a symbol
> of Christ in his double form, half divine, half man.
>
> However, I have some other unreferenced mentions of their association
> with:
>
> -Monogramous marriage (a griffon said to take one partner and never
> find another mate after his/her partner dies) -Divine royal
> power/strength -Legend of Alexander the Great proceeding his conquest
> eastwards in spite of attacks from so-called griffons
>
> I am particularly interested in the Alexander the Great legend
> surrounding these and I am about to do a quick search for refs in the
> primary texts I know. I know that myths about him were quite popular
> later on in the 11-12th century in southern Italy (see cathedral floor
> at Otranto and Trani for example).
>
> Any thoughts or ideas welcome.
>
> Tehmina
>
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