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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