Event Title
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.
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.