Robes and Honor: The Medieval World of Investiture

Robes and Honor is a fascinating exploration of the possible common origin and subsequent developments of investiture across medieval Christianity and medieval Islam. The ceremony in all of its cultural variety was much more than the public adoption of a high-value textile as symbol of office; within a culture, robing established a personal link 'from the hand' of the giver - king, pope, head of a sect, ambassador - to the receiver - noble, general, official, nun, or acolyte. This volume challenges current thinking on religious and regional boundaries of 'cultures, ' raises semiotic issues about imagined communities, and addresses problems of kingship.

Author: S. Gordon
Publisher: Palgrave MacMillan
Published: 01/01/2001
Pages: 394
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.64lbs
Size: 8.82h x 5.82w x 1.27d
ISBN: 9780312212308

Review Citation(s):
Reference and Research Bk News 08/01/2001 pg. 70

About the Author
Stewart Gordon is a Research Scientist at the Center for South and Southeast Asian Studies Center, University of Michigan.