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Epilogue

Classical Masculinity in Early Medieval and Byzantine Christianity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 November 2022

Nathan D. Howard
Affiliation:
University of Tennessee, Martin
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Summary

The Epilogue identifies classical masculinity as reflected in depictions of late antique clothing,liturgy in Carolingian monasteries, and miniature illustrations in middle-Byzantine manuscripts. Fifth-century clergy wore specific apparel to signify manhood. Benedictine lectors (readers) were selected according to their virility of voice. And Byzantine artists set clergy face to face in manuscripts, in part a legacy of the agōn trope of reciprocal strength. These examples show that elements of classical masculinity continued to inform the Christian church in western Europe and Byzantium into the eleventh century. Such representations continued to evoke power and authority within the hierarchy of the church.Like fourth-century agōn rhetoric, these trappings of classical manhood provided a language of hierarchy for church leaders to integrate into a faith that lacked comparable platforms for displays of social and spiritual distinction.

Type
Chapter
Information
Christianity and the Contest for Manhood in Late Antiquity
The Cappadocian Fathers and the Rhetoric of Masculinity
, pp. 272 - 277
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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  • Epilogue
  • Nathan D. Howard
  • Book: Christianity and the Contest for Manhood in Late Antiquity
  • Online publication: 10 November 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009090827.007
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  • Epilogue
  • Nathan D. Howard
  • Book: Christianity and the Contest for Manhood in Late Antiquity
  • Online publication: 10 November 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009090827.007
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Epilogue
  • Nathan D. Howard
  • Book: Christianity and the Contest for Manhood in Late Antiquity
  • Online publication: 10 November 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009090827.007
Available formats
×