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IMC 2009: Sessions

Session 612: Marvels of the East in the 12th Century

Tuesday 14 July 2009, 11.15-12.45

Sponsor:Istituto Italiano di Scienze Umane, Firenze / Università degli Studi di Milano
Organiser:Francesco Marzella, Istituto Italiano di Scienze Umane, Firenze
Moderator/Chair:Chris Wickham, All Souls College, University of Oxford
Paper 612-aMirabilia Orientis and Universal Kingship: On Political Theology in the Letter of Prester John
(Language: English)
Marco Giardini, Dipartimenti di Scienze della Storia, Università degli Studi di Milano / Université Paris I - Panthéon-Sorbonne
Index terms: Mentalities, Political Thought, Theology
Paper 612-bSt John the Evangelist and St Edward the Confessor's Ring
(Language: English)
Francesco Marzella, Istituto Italiano di Scienze Umane, Firenze
Index terms: Hagiography, Mentalities
Abstract

The main purpose of this session is to examine some Western representations of Eastern lands. The first two papers will focus on symbolic and legendary motifs related to the 'marvellous East' and their use in two Western texts of the 12th century of political-theological (letter of Prester John) and hagiographical (the episode of the Saint John the Evangelist in the Lives of Saint Edward the Confessor) character.