Terence's «Eunuchus Iudaeus»?: Iconography and Identities in Gothic Illuminated Manuscripts

Presentation Type

Oral and/or Visual Presentation

Presenter Major(s)

Classics

Mentor Information

Sigrid Danielson

Department

Art and Design

Location

Kirkhof Center 2266

Start Date

10-4-2013 12:00 AM

End Date

10-4-2013 12:00 AM

Keywords

Arts, Historical Perspectives, Identity

Abstract

Poring over an illuminated 15th-century French manuscript of the plays of Terence (BNF lat. 7907A), we are confronted with a most unusual illustrated figure: dressed entirely in yellow, Dorus (the actual eunuch of the «Eunuchus») wears a pointed, yellow cap ending in a knob. Medieval iconography suggests that Dorus is a Jew. He is depicted wearing the «pileum cornutum» or peaked (literally horned) hat, which despite its name had many stylistic variations, was the most typical headdress used in Christian, northern European art to signify Jewishness. While scholars have questioned whether the «pileum cornutum» always denotes a pejorative characterization, its presence on a eunuch nevertheless raises some interesting questions. Here, I explore the relationship between medieval Jew and eunuch, as well as postulate why the «eunuchus» was depicted as «iudaeus» in this manuscript, using the so-called 'Ducal Terence' (Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal MS-664; ca. 1400-1500 CE) as a foil.

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Apr 10th, 12:00 AM Apr 10th, 12:00 AM

Terence's «Eunuchus Iudaeus»?: Iconography and Identities in Gothic Illuminated Manuscripts

Kirkhof Center 2266

Poring over an illuminated 15th-century French manuscript of the plays of Terence (BNF lat. 7907A), we are confronted with a most unusual illustrated figure: dressed entirely in yellow, Dorus (the actual eunuch of the «Eunuchus») wears a pointed, yellow cap ending in a knob. Medieval iconography suggests that Dorus is a Jew. He is depicted wearing the «pileum cornutum» or peaked (literally horned) hat, which despite its name had many stylistic variations, was the most typical headdress used in Christian, northern European art to signify Jewishness. While scholars have questioned whether the «pileum cornutum» always denotes a pejorative characterization, its presence on a eunuch nevertheless raises some interesting questions. Here, I explore the relationship between medieval Jew and eunuch, as well as postulate why the «eunuchus» was depicted as «iudaeus» in this manuscript, using the so-called 'Ducal Terence' (Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal MS-664; ca. 1400-1500 CE) as a foil.