Search Results (57)

This essay explores themes in monk–underworld stories from the early medieval to Song periods, shedding light on evolving monastic–lay relations. These tales typically follow an individual who visits the afterlife and returns to share their experience. Monks frequently appear in these narratives, revealing shifting perceptions of the clergy. In earlier stories, monks often serve as underworld guardians or bodhisattvas, but by the Song period they are more commonly depicted as recipients of punishment, often for neglecting their obligations to lay patrons. This shift suggests that Song society increasingly viewed monks through a commercial lens, expecting them to provide specific services. However, these underworld tales do not indicate a decline in respect for the clergy. A broader look at Song literature confirms that monks remained highly regarded, despite changing expectations of their role within society. Full article

This study examines the Roman burgus and medieval lowland castle ‘Zullestein’ near Biblis (Bergstraße district/Hessen/Germany) and its surrounding fluvio-scape. The aim of the study is to reassess the appearance of the fortifications and the surrounding area at the confluence of the River Weschnitz and the River Rhine based on the excavation results from the 1970s and current geoarchaeological research on site. Our approach encompasses electrical resistivity tomography, direct push sensing, sediment coring and the use of a high-resolution digital elevation model in combination with historical depictions of the Zullestein site from the 17th century AD. The findings of this integrative approach indicate that the Roman fort was likely located at a secondary channel of the River Rhine. With the renewed occupation of the Zullestein site by Lorsch Abbey during Carolingian times and the expansion into a lowland castle in the 11th century, the site was now located at the Weschnitz mouth into the Rhine, likely as part of anthropogenic interventions related to the Weschnitz fluvioscape. Traces of the final phase of the castle at the time of the Thirty Years’ War can still be seen in the terrain today and their attribution to individual elements of the historical account can be confirmed by the geoarchaeological results. The combination of methods presented in this study is a suitable option if excavations are not possible. Full article

The individual, as found primarily in modern Western civilization, is defined as “the independent, autonomous and thus (essentially) nonsocial moral being”, “the rational being” who is “the normative subject of institutions”. This is the definition of the individual we adhere to in this text. This text delves into the intricate dimensions of the concept of the individual by exploring the theological foundations inherent in Western thought. Rooted in Max Weber’s assertion regarding the theological meanings of Man’s self-perception, the entry emphasizes the pivotal role of theological understandings in shaping the concept of the individual. Focusing on the influence of Christian perspectives on the development of the concept of the individual, the article traces the historical entwining of theology and the concept of Man between antiquity and medieval times. Full article

The impact of the Reformations, in Switzerland and elsewhere, on the regulation of sexuality has been extensively researched in recent decades. Laws against adultery and premarital fornication were strengthened and promulgated, leading to the decline of the late-medieval public brothel. However, the impact of these theological, legal, and institutional changes on the women who engaged in transactional or commercial sex outside of marriage has been harder to capture. Even the authorities’ definitions of such women remain difficult to pin down: were they viewed as promiscuous sinners to be punished, laborers in a dishonorable profession, poor vagrants to be exiled, or all or none of the above? This paper first discusses the historiography of prostitution to show how previous research terminology and definitions of the phenomenon are insufficient for the early modern context. It then analyses a case study from sixteenth-century Zurich in which different understandings about premodern prostitutes coexisted, intersected, and conflicted with the argument that these individuals were conceived of in terms of authorities’ fears rather than a specific set of characteristics. Full article

The long-term stability of orally transmitted ethnopharmacopoeias is of interest, but difficult to study for lack of information on plants used by a specific past culture. Similarities between modern Italian ethnopharmacopoeias and Dioscorides’ classical text have been proposed to derive from modern replacement of traditional practices with those from published translations of Dioscorides. Ibn al-Baytar produced the best compendium of medicinal substances in medieval Islamic science. He gave “Berber” common names for some plants, which were presumptively used by North African Amazigh people. Since Amazigh traditional knowledge was largely transmitted orally, with little access to medieval literature, this allows comparison of historic (>750 years ago) practices and modern practices that are unlikely to be causally derived. Presumptive identities for Ibn al-Baytar’s plants with Berber names were obtained from key references. Recent ethnomedicinal publications from Amazigh-populated areas in North Africa were surveyed for reports of those species and homologous common names. Of 46 historically used plants, an estimated 60.9% are still used in Amazigh regions, 78.6% with homologous common names. This is likely to underestimate persistence of species use across the entire local pharmacopoeia. Second, emulating a published analysis of Dioscorides, plants reported by three large recent studies in Amazigh regions were compared with plants recorded by Ibn al-Baytar and in a comprehensive modern Moroccan reference. Between 58.2% and 73.8% of species included in individual studies were recorded by Ibn al-Baytar; of the 46 shared among all three, 82.6% were recorded by Ibn al-Baytar and 100% by the modern reference. An historical compilation may be more likely to mention plants that are widely used today simply because a thorough author could document most plants that were widely used at the time; use of such data to assess causality should take that effect into consideration. Full article

The canonical limitations on stūpa burial for ordinary monks and prohibitions on non-Buddhist stūpas underwent significant changes in medieval China. A key question emerges when considering how the use of stūpas expanded beyond honoring the Buddha and saints to include lay individuals. People’s interpretation of stūpas—whether they were clergy or lay followers—varied based on their distinct social contexts, living circumstances, and religious beliefs. This article examines lay participation in the stūpa forest at Mount Zhongnan in Chang’an during the seventh and eighth centuries, drawing primarily on inscriptions evidence. By reassessing funerary stūpas erected for laypeople at Mount Zhongnan, this article calls for a reconsideration of the traditional sectarian view of lay-oriented funeral rituals. Even within the laity, motivations for constructing funerary stūpas differed. For some lay Buddhists, the Three Stages teachings influenced their burial practices, while for others without a direct connection to this community, stūpa burials were often more personal, centered on family commemoration. This study highlights the interplay between religious rituals and social structures, as evidenced by the historical and cultural significance of specific material culture. Full article

This encyclopedic entry explores the vast field of courtly love poetry, romance, and other related genres, tracing the development of this topic across medieval Europe and discussing some of the major contributors. The focus rests on the element of discourse because so many different poets have made their voices heard and debated from many different perspectives the meaning, impact, and consequence of courtly love on the individual in ethical, social, moral, religious, economic, and even political terms. Courtly love is to be understood as a literary discourse on the mostly esoteric pursuit of love as a way of life for members of the high medieval aristocracy, finding vivid expression in poetry, short verse narratives, and romances. Full article

This article examines a single figure from Christian history, the reformed sinner known as Musa of Rome (d.c. 593). Tracing the evolution of Musa from Gregory the Great’s Dialogues to early modern pastoral texts, this study explores processes of condemnation, recalibration, and negotiation regarding dance in premodern Christianity. The first section analyzes medieval portrayals of Musa as expressions of “choreophobia,” a term borrowed from dance studies scholar Anthony Shay that denotes cultural anxiety surrounding dance. Here, I argue that choreophobic renditions of Musa sedimented medieval misogyny and conceptualized sin. The second section turns to late medieval sources that assess dance differently vis-à-vis dance studies scholar André Lepecki’s concept of “choreopolice” or “choreopolicing”. For this study, choreopolicing highlights how ecclesiastical authorities refashioned Musa as a moralizing vehicle to articulate and implement clerical agendas. The third and final section explores Musa’s inspiring aura as a sacred muse. In this vein, her kinesthetic afterlives helped Christian laity apprehend Marian piety, visualize the resurrected body, and communicate hope for redemption. Methodologically, this study embraces the frameworks of religious studies, medieval studies, and dance studies. However fictional and embellished retellings of the Musa story were, this article—the first in-depth scholarly study dedicated to Musa of Rome—demonstrates how the medieval dancing body manifested a site of political contestation, ecclesiastical control, and individual redemption. Full article

This study aims to understand and characterise the landscape of monasteries in early medieval Portugal using a methodology to better comprehend the factors influencing monastery construction. The research focuses on variables such as altitude, slope, aspect, hydrology, geomorphology, and topographic prominence. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for detailed spatial analysis, the study reveals that monasteries were typically located in areas with slight elevations, gentle slopes, and proximity to watercourses, reflecting considerations about resource exploitations, access, and population development. The analysis shows no significant differences in construction preferences among different religious orders, indicating a general adaptability to the local environment rather than distinct criteria for each order. Despite the broad trends, individual orders exhibited some variability in their specific site selections, such as altitude and slope preferences. The findings highlight the importance of integrating historical and environmental data to understand settlement patterns, providing valuable insights into the strategic considerations behind monastery locations. Future research could expand on these findings by incorporating socio-economic impacts, enhancing our understanding of medieval monastic landscapes. Full article

Texts recounting the careers of saints were foundational to Christian worship and historical construction in medieval Europe. They were also fluid, living works that evolved over time as individual saints’ stories were revised, adapted, and retold. These texts changed in response to changing contexts in which they were used and understood. This article undertakes a case study to see how the evolution of one urban saint’s legend reflects the history of that saint’s city. Specifically, it analyzes the numerous Latin and vernacular texts produced between the mid-fifth and late twelfth centuries that recount the deeds of Saint Trophimus, first bishop of Arles. It argues that shifts in the saint’s story reflect broad changes in the political, religious, and social life of Arles. It also demonstrates that the number of parties recounting the legend multiplied over time, and that dissonances within the story arose as these groups adapted the tale to their own interests. Full article

Reconstructing the face from the skull is important not only for forensic identification but also as a tool that can provide insight into the appearance of individuals from past populations. It requires a multidisciplinary approach that combines anthropological knowledge, advanced imaging methods, and artistic skills. In the present study, we demonstrate this process on the skull of an early medieval warrior from Croatia. The skeletal remains were prepared and scanned using multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) and examined using standard anthropological and radiological methods. The analysis revealed that the remains belonged to a 35–45-year-old male individual who had suffered severe cranial trauma, probably causing his death. From MSCT images, we reconstructed a three-dimensional (3D) model of the skull, on which we digitally positioned cylinders demarking the soft tissue thickness and created the face with a realistic texture. A 3D model of the face was then optimized, printed, and used to produce a clay model. Sculpturing techniques added skin textures and facial features with scars and trauma manifestations. Finally, after constructing a plaster model, the model was painted and refined by adding fine details like eyes and hair, and it was prepared for presentation in the form of a sculpture. Full article

This article presents the results of research that focused on the nutrition and related health issues of medieval and early modern dogs found in the territory of present-day Lithuania. In this study, we present bone collagen carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) isotope ratios for seventy-five dogs recovered from seven sites which were dated back to the between the 12th and 18th C AD. In addition, by studying the remains of almost 200 dogs, we were able to estimate changes in the sizes and morphotypes of canines across over 600 years. On the basis of stable isotope and historical data, as well as the osteometric analysis, we discuss the dietary patterns of different sizes and types of dogs from the sites related to different social strata and time periods. The results of our study demonstrate that the size, type, diet, and health of canines from different time periods and sociocultural environments varied. Overall, carbon isotopic signals indicate that dogs’ diets were based on C₃ plant environment foods (cereals and animals), while freshwater fish was more important for some individuals in coastal Klaipėda/Memelburg Castle. The stable isotope analysis supported the historical records, indicating that cereals were highly important in the diet of elite dogs. Meanwhile, urban dogs had a different nutrition. In the Middle Ages, the consumption of plant-based foods was likely higher compared to the early modern period. Our study also revealed that the diets of dogs did not correlate with individual size. Compared to pigs, dogs had a higher intake of animal foods in their diet. In general, the nutrition of the studied canines was similar to that of the rural human population of the same period. Full article

One of the periods with the greatest social, cultural, and religious changes was, without a doubt, the European medieval period. The concept of “Family” was one of the fields that gradually evolved, from individuals who shared the same biological lineage, to members of the same “House”. One of the ways to study the concept of “Family” in ancient periods is through a bioarchaeological perspective, where both anthropology and genetics have proven to be essential disciplines for studying “Families”. Through burial rituals, observing whether the graves were single or multiple, as is carried out in the study of human remains, we discuss the profound contribution of anthropology to the “Family” investigation, through mobility studies, the investigation of biological sex, observing certain congenital anomalies or, even, the study of certain ancient infectious diseases. Concerning genetics, the study of bones or teeth allows us to determine whether individuals were from the same close family or if they belonged to the same lineage through the maternal and paternal sides, being one of the only scientific ways of proposing social relationships between individuals, such as that created through adoption. Full article

The city of Zagreb, the national capital and economic hub of Croatia, is situated in a seismically active region and hosts a significant array of historical buildings, from the medieval to Austro-Hungarian periods. These buildings possess varying but generally high degrees of vulnerability to seismic loading. This was highlighted in the Zagreb earthquake of 22 March 2020, emphasizing the need for seismic retrofitting in order to preserve this architectural heritage. In this paper, the seismic capacity of one such unreinforced masonry building is considered through a number of analysis methods, including response spectrum, pushover, and out-of-plane wall failure analyses. Given the advantages and disadvantages of the individual methods, their applicability and value in a seismic analysis is considered. Ambient vibration measurements before and after the Zagreb 2020 earthquake, used for model calibration, are also presented. Conclusions are drawn from each individual analysis and later compared. In conclusion, no single analysis method considers all relevant failure modes, and a combination of nonlinear static or dynamic analysis and out-of-plane analysis is recommended. Due to the large volume of the material, it is published in two parts, with ground motion record selection, dynamic analysis, and a comparison of the results published in part two. Full article

This essay discusses the pedagogical value of hagiology by examining how medieval Persian hagiographies can be used to explore the concept of “interpellation”: the process by which individuals are constituted as subjects in particular ideological systems. This essay uses an analysis of Rumi’s anecdote, “Moses and the Shepherd”, to demonstrate how hagiological approaches are valuable not just in understanding how a saint is constructed in a particular historical and cultural context but also how an audience is constructed and interpellated. The essay then introduces a pedagogical exercise that connects an analysis of Islamic hagiographies with an exploration of how students are interpellated with modern subjectivities in our contemporary ideological systems. Full article