Gerard O'Daly
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- September 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780199263950
- eISBN:
- 9780191741364
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199263950.003.0013
- Subject:
- Classical Studies, Literary Studies: Classical, Early, and Medieval, Poetry and Poets: Classical, Early, and Medieval
This chapter discusses the themes of the poem: the Christmas star; the Magi and the symbolism of their gifts; the fulfilment of Messianic prophecies; Herod and the slaughter of the Innocents; Moses ...
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This chapter discusses the themes of the poem: the Christmas star; the Magi and the symbolism of their gifts; the fulfilment of Messianic prophecies; Herod and the slaughter of the Innocents; Moses and Joshua as prefigurations or types of Christ; Christ the king and ruler, liberating humanity from death; and the poem as a post-Ambrosian hymn.Less
This chapter discusses the themes of the poem: the Christmas star; the Magi and the symbolism of their gifts; the fulfilment of Messianic prophecies; Herod and the slaughter of the Innocents; Moses and Joshua as prefigurations or types of Christ; Christ the king and ruler, liberating humanity from death; and the poem as a post-Ambrosian hymn.
Gordon Kipling
- Published in print:
- 1998
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198117612
- eISBN:
- 9780191671012
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198117612.003.0004
- Subject:
- Literature, Early and Medieval Literature
On the Continent, material gifts were not, as a rule, presented as an episode in the triumph procession itself, but they nevertheless formed an essential part of the larger celebrations of the ...
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On the Continent, material gifts were not, as a rule, presented as an episode in the triumph procession itself, but they nevertheless formed an essential part of the larger celebrations of the monarch's ‘joyous advent’ into each city. Because civic triumphs usually marked the sovereign's first coming to his people, the adventus ceremony necessarily symbolized the formal inauguration of the relationship between sovereign and people. The citizens' presentation of a gift to their sovereign necessarily assumes a particularly solemn ritual significance on such an occasion. This first offering of a gift constitutes a primal act of homage — an epiphany — like that of the Magi. Just as the Magi bestowed gifts on the Christ-child to symbolize their faith in, and their willing submission to, the christus of God, so the gifts of citizens on the occasion of their sovereign's adventus symbolizes both their fealty and their willing submission to ‘the Prince of God among us’.Less
On the Continent, material gifts were not, as a rule, presented as an episode in the triumph procession itself, but they nevertheless formed an essential part of the larger celebrations of the monarch's ‘joyous advent’ into each city. Because civic triumphs usually marked the sovereign's first coming to his people, the adventus ceremony necessarily symbolized the formal inauguration of the relationship between sovereign and people. The citizens' presentation of a gift to their sovereign necessarily assumes a particularly solemn ritual significance on such an occasion. This first offering of a gift constitutes a primal act of homage — an epiphany — like that of the Magi. Just as the Magi bestowed gifts on the Christ-child to symbolize their faith in, and their willing submission to, the christus of God, so the gifts of citizens on the occasion of their sovereign's adventus symbolizes both their fealty and their willing submission to ‘the Prince of God among us’.
Mark Williams
- Published in print:
- 2010
- Published Online:
- September 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780199571840
- eISBN:
- 9780191594434
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199571840.003.0002
- Subject:
- Literature, Early and Medieval Literature, Mythology and Folklore
This chapter analyses the literary topos of cloud-divination by druids, which emerged only in the 12th century. Druids are figures of enduring importance in Irish medieval literature, and druidic ...
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This chapter analyses the literary topos of cloud-divination by druids, which emerged only in the 12th century. Druids are figures of enduring importance in Irish medieval literature, and druidic nephelomancy has been one of the mainstays of the argument for a native ‘Celtic’ form of celestial divination. It is argued that this is in fact unlikely, and that this motif derives from the semantic range of ‘magus’ in Hiberno-Latin — both ‘one of the three Magi’ and ‘druid’. The legend of the Magi had reached its fully-developed form by the 11th century, and the biblical Magi had been explicitly described as astrologers and diviners from the heavens in Irish exegesis since the 8th century. Their new importance as figures of pious legend allowed some of their skills to pass to the literary druid, via a persistent two-way semantic slippage. This is followed by an analysis of the magical skills of the Irish literary druid, some of which, it is shown, derived from the circulating medieval legend of the ‘miracles’ of Antichrist.Less
This chapter analyses the literary topos of cloud-divination by druids, which emerged only in the 12th century. Druids are figures of enduring importance in Irish medieval literature, and druidic nephelomancy has been one of the mainstays of the argument for a native ‘Celtic’ form of celestial divination. It is argued that this is in fact unlikely, and that this motif derives from the semantic range of ‘magus’ in Hiberno-Latin — both ‘one of the three Magi’ and ‘druid’. The legend of the Magi had reached its fully-developed form by the 11th century, and the biblical Magi had been explicitly described as astrologers and diviners from the heavens in Irish exegesis since the 8th century. Their new importance as figures of pious legend allowed some of their skills to pass to the literary druid, via a persistent two-way semantic slippage. This is followed by an analysis of the magical skills of the Irish literary druid, some of which, it is shown, derived from the circulating medieval legend of the ‘miracles’ of Antichrist.
Richard Stoneman
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- May 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780300180077
- eISBN:
- 9780300216042
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300180077.003.0004
- Subject:
- History, Ancient History / Archaeology
This chapter focuses on Xerxes's religion, with particular emphasis on his mission to establish Zoroastrianism at the expense of all other religions. According to Shahnameh, Xerxes is a strongly ...
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This chapter focuses on Xerxes's religion, with particular emphasis on his mission to establish Zoroastrianism at the expense of all other religions. According to Shahnameh, Xerxes is a strongly religious king, even a man with missionary zeal. It also suggests that Xerxes and his father Darius I represented religious revolution in Iran. To understand Xerxes's religiosity, this chapter examines the intractable problems surrounding the prophet Zoroaster. It then considers the link between Darius and Gushtasp, ruler in Balkh, nowhere near Fars where the Achaemenid kings have their origins. It also discusses problems with the attribution of Zoroastrianism to the Persian kings from Cyrus the Great onwards. Finally, it looks at the role of the Magi in Persian religion, religious toleration in the Persian Empire, and Xerxes's attitude towards the daevas.Less
This chapter focuses on Xerxes's religion, with particular emphasis on his mission to establish Zoroastrianism at the expense of all other religions. According to Shahnameh, Xerxes is a strongly religious king, even a man with missionary zeal. It also suggests that Xerxes and his father Darius I represented religious revolution in Iran. To understand Xerxes's religiosity, this chapter examines the intractable problems surrounding the prophet Zoroaster. It then considers the link between Darius and Gushtasp, ruler in Balkh, nowhere near Fars where the Achaemenid kings have their origins. It also discusses problems with the attribution of Zoroastrianism to the Persian kings from Cyrus the Great onwards. Finally, it looks at the role of the Magi in Persian religion, religious toleration in the Persian Empire, and Xerxes's attitude towards the daevas.
Valerie Kivelson
- Published in print:
- 2013
- Published Online:
- August 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780801451461
- eISBN:
- 9780801469381
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Cornell University Press
- DOI:
- 10.7591/cornell/9780801451461.003.0001
- Subject:
- History, Russian and Former Soviet Union History
This chapter examines the historiography of witchcraft throughout Europe, highlighting how Russian witchcraft thought and practice differ from the others. The study of witchcraft traces its origins ...
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This chapter examines the historiography of witchcraft throughout Europe, highlighting how Russian witchcraft thought and practice differ from the others. The study of witchcraft traces its origins back to the earliest records of writing in the ancient world and, in the Christian West, emerged in the form of demonological treatises beginning in the late Middle Ages. Medieval Russia shared with its northern neighbors a pre-Christian tradition of shamanic religion. Its priests were known as volkhvy, sorcerers, seers, or pagan priests—the same word used to translate the biblical Magi. The nature of Russia’s male witches by early modern times, however, was so distinct from that of its near neighbors that it is more revealing of contrast and difference than of productive similarity. What the contrast highlights is the limits of the shamanic model for explaining the origins or meaning of witchcraft in society.Less
This chapter examines the historiography of witchcraft throughout Europe, highlighting how Russian witchcraft thought and practice differ from the others. The study of witchcraft traces its origins back to the earliest records of writing in the ancient world and, in the Christian West, emerged in the form of demonological treatises beginning in the late Middle Ages. Medieval Russia shared with its northern neighbors a pre-Christian tradition of shamanic religion. Its priests were known as volkhvy, sorcerers, seers, or pagan priests—the same word used to translate the biblical Magi. The nature of Russia’s male witches by early modern times, however, was so distinct from that of its near neighbors that it is more revealing of contrast and difference than of productive similarity. What the contrast highlights is the limits of the shamanic model for explaining the origins or meaning of witchcraft in society.
M. David Litwa
- Published in print:
- 2019
- Published Online:
- January 2020
- ISBN:
- 9780300242638
- eISBN:
- 9780300249484
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300242638.003.0008
- Subject:
- Religion, Biblical Studies
This chapter compares Matthew’s story of the Magi and the roving star at Jesus’s birth with analogous stories of Magi and moving stars in mythic historiography. Special attention is drawn to the star ...
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This chapter compares Matthew’s story of the Magi and the roving star at Jesus’s birth with analogous stories of Magi and moving stars in mythic historiography. Special attention is drawn to the star appearing for Mithridates VI Eupator and the so-called Torch of Timoleon.Less
This chapter compares Matthew’s story of the Magi and the roving star at Jesus’s birth with analogous stories of Magi and moving stars in mythic historiography. Special attention is drawn to the star appearing for Mithridates VI Eupator and the so-called Torch of Timoleon.
Jamsheed K. Choksy
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- September 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780520258310
- eISBN:
- 9780520954083
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of California Press
- DOI:
- 10.1525/california/9780520258310.003.0007
- Subject:
- Anthropology, Anthropology, Religion
This chapter introduces the reader to an important theme in Zoroastrianism’s sacred texts, as well as to the major elements in the broader historical and theological contexts essential to the ...
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This chapter introduces the reader to an important theme in Zoroastrianism’s sacred texts, as well as to the major elements in the broader historical and theological contexts essential to the interpretation of that theme. Coming to the fore are teachings of Zarathustra’s principal spiritual descendants, the Magi, concerning the contest of cosmic forces of good and evil, represented (respectively) by the deity Ahura Mazda and by Angra Mainyu, the leader of the hordes of chaos. Drawing from all the formative periods of Zoroastrian history, from Achaemenid times through late antiquity and medieval times, the author, Jamshid Choksy, provides a superb overview of the tradition, concluding with a brief reflection on the implications for adherents of the faith in our time.Less
This chapter introduces the reader to an important theme in Zoroastrianism’s sacred texts, as well as to the major elements in the broader historical and theological contexts essential to the interpretation of that theme. Coming to the fore are teachings of Zarathustra’s principal spiritual descendants, the Magi, concerning the contest of cosmic forces of good and evil, represented (respectively) by the deity Ahura Mazda and by Angra Mainyu, the leader of the hordes of chaos. Drawing from all the formative periods of Zoroastrian history, from Achaemenid times through late antiquity and medieval times, the author, Jamshid Choksy, provides a superb overview of the tradition, concluding with a brief reflection on the implications for adherents of the faith in our time.
Carmen Fracchia
- Published in print:
- 2019
- Published Online:
- November 2019
- ISBN:
- 9780198767978
- eISBN:
- 9780191821820
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198767978.003.0003
- Subject:
- History, European Early Modern History, Cultural History
I discuss the semiotic control imposed on the production of religious depictions after the Council of Trent (1563), achieved by the decree on sacred images and the monitoring of art production by a ...
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I discuss the semiotic control imposed on the production of religious depictions after the Council of Trent (1563), achieved by the decree on sacred images and the monitoring of art production by a censor appointed by the Inquisition. I map out the visual discourses that offer representations of blackness, slavery and human diversity and I concentrate on ‘Black Sainthood’ promoted in black confraternities: Baltasar in the Adoration of the Magi, Benedict of Palermo from Sicily, Iphigenia, and Elesbaan from Ethiopia. I reveal the prohibition to members of the oldest black confraternity of participation in public processions and I provide the legal case against them. I consider the eighteenth-century legend of the miraculous blackening of the face of the sculpture of St Francis of Paula in La Habana, in Cuba, as a sign of support to the black brothers after the institution had been taken over by the white nobility.Less
I discuss the semiotic control imposed on the production of religious depictions after the Council of Trent (1563), achieved by the decree on sacred images and the monitoring of art production by a censor appointed by the Inquisition. I map out the visual discourses that offer representations of blackness, slavery and human diversity and I concentrate on ‘Black Sainthood’ promoted in black confraternities: Baltasar in the Adoration of the Magi, Benedict of Palermo from Sicily, Iphigenia, and Elesbaan from Ethiopia. I reveal the prohibition to members of the oldest black confraternity of participation in public processions and I provide the legal case against them. I consider the eighteenth-century legend of the miraculous blackening of the face of the sculpture of St Francis of Paula in La Habana, in Cuba, as a sign of support to the black brothers after the institution had been taken over by the white nobility.
Franck Petit
- Published in print:
- 2020
- Published Online:
- June 2020
- ISBN:
- 9780198858621
- eISBN:
- 9780191890819
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198858621.003.0025
- Subject:
- Law, Public International Law
This chapter describes how the Extraordinary African Chambers (EAC) communications team structured public debates and other outreach activities during and after the Hissène Habré trial in Chad and ...
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This chapter describes how the Extraordinary African Chambers (EAC) communications team structured public debates and other outreach activities during and after the Hissène Habré trial in Chad and Senegal. The EAC was the first court to provide for outreach in its budget and to make outreach activities an official element of court's structure and output. The trial of a former president on African soil within a reasonable time framework and the popularity of the intense struggle of Chadian victims fueled this successful and invigorating outreach program. In Chad, Senegal, and elsewhere in Africa and Europe, the three member organizations of the outreach consortium—RCN Justice & Démocratie, Primum Africa Consulting, and Magi Communications—and their local partners joined forces to ensure that this first inter-African tribunal was understood, explained, and debated, neutrally and transparently, and as close to the public as possible. The chapter then notes the challenges and opportunities of working across countries, cultures, and politics in seeking to publicize the work of the EAC.Less
This chapter describes how the Extraordinary African Chambers (EAC) communications team structured public debates and other outreach activities during and after the Hissène Habré trial in Chad and Senegal. The EAC was the first court to provide for outreach in its budget and to make outreach activities an official element of court's structure and output. The trial of a former president on African soil within a reasonable time framework and the popularity of the intense struggle of Chadian victims fueled this successful and invigorating outreach program. In Chad, Senegal, and elsewhere in Africa and Europe, the three member organizations of the outreach consortium—RCN Justice & Démocratie, Primum Africa Consulting, and Magi Communications—and their local partners joined forces to ensure that this first inter-African tribunal was understood, explained, and debated, neutrally and transparently, and as close to the public as possible. The chapter then notes the challenges and opportunities of working across countries, cultures, and politics in seeking to publicize the work of the EAC.
