Renate Rosenthal-Heginbottom
Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Israel Antiquities Authority, Israel
The so-called “gesture of blessing” — the raised right hand with the palm turned outward — is open to a number of interpretations, depending on the cultural and religious context in which it occurs. It is very ancient and persists until the present day in the visual arts. When excavating at Dura Europos Franz Cumont described it as the ‘ritual gesture of the ancient Semites’; most scholars refer to the gesture of blessing while others define it as gesture of omnipotence, prayer, reverence, plea and wish for protection. Different interpretations will arise from the archaeological evidence with regard to religion and cult, ethnicity, social status and target group.
The areas I shall focus on are Syria, the Nabatean realm, the Parthian Empire, the Byzantine Empire, Egypt and South Arabia. At first glance, it is primarily the Roman political koine and later Christian art which ties these areas together. Stone sculpture and reliefs, sarcophagi, mosaics and wall paintings, clay and bronze figurines, cosmetic containers and coins will be presented and discussed. Male and female divinities, their worshipers, priests, saints, royal and high ranking personalities as well as common people and the deceased are represented within diverse ethnic, religious and social groups in sacral, funerary and domestic contexts. Roman and Christian emperors are often depicted with the raised right hand well into the Middle Ages. The place of this gesture in Christian iconography is well-documented; it became a predominant gesture as sign of blessing of the Roman Catholic, Greek and Russian Orthodox churches.