Revisiting Salome's Dance in Medieval and Early Modern Iconology

By Barbara Baert

Mark 6:14-29 and Matthew 14:1-12 recount the death of John theBaptist. Herod had him imprisoned for denouncing as incestuous hismarriage to Herodias, the former wife of his brother. During a banquet, Herodias' daughter dances before Herod, who is so enchanted thathe promises her a favor. At her mother's behest, she asks for the headof John the Baptist. The king honors her request and has the headdelivered to her on a plate (in disco), which she gives to hermother. When the disciples of John discover about his death, theybury his headless body. In this essay I revisit the iconographic motifof the dancing girl from an interdisciplinary perspectiveinvolving exegesis, gender, anthropology, ritual performance, psycho-energetics, Pathosformeln and paragone.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 904293428X
• ISBN13: 9789042934283
• Release Date: November 2016
• Publisher: Peeters
• Length: 98 Pages
• Weight: 1.18 lbs.