As a footnote to the discussion of wedding garb, it is worth noting that
there were religious texts that spoke of special garments and their
qualities (if not always their color) in association with marriage and
other significant rites. One such text is the "Joseph and Aseneth" story,
which circulated in various forms. In her recent book <t>When Aseneth Met
Joseph</> (Oxford 1998), Ross Kraemer has a brief section on "Change of
Clothing" (96) in which she notes that ancient "magic" often prescribes
changing to "pure" (angelic?) garments when a person seeks to contact the
powerful forces -- "typically, these garments are new, clean, pure, often
of linen, and sometimes white." All this is connected with the clothing
changes that Aseneth undergoes, including her wedding garb (Aseneth
18.3ff) "which had the appearance of lightning"! What influence such
images may have had, or what realities they may reflect, are for others to
decide. But evidence for clean, pure, bright wedding garments (and
garments appropriate for special, "angelic" contacts) at this sort of
ideal level is certainly ancient.
Bob
--
Robert A. Kraft, Religious Studies, University of Pennsylvania
227 Logan Hall (Philadelphia PA 19104-6304); tel. 215 898-5827
[log in to unmask]
http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/rs/rak/kraft.html
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