The Arma Christi [General discussion]

[Koen G]

(...continued)

The "road to Calvary" explains the root as a trumpet and the pole-like stalk and leaves as banners, but I was left pondering what was meant with the top part.

Then I remembered how Anton recently said it's "clearly manifesting itself as a hood". He was thinking as a monk's hood as reference to the plant with that name.

   

If these are indeed pieces of headgear, I don't think they belong to monks. They are blue, and the inner part is white. The lining along the edge is white as well, and appears patterned. I don't think it belongs to a man. And the answer is in the same image.

   

These scenes were mostly a product of Tradition. Several of the "stages of the cross" are not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, so also the one where he meets his mother. These likely originate from Luke 23:27 "A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him."

In medieval depictions, Mary is almost always included in scenes where Jesus carries the cross and in crucifixion scenes. She is often seen wearing her blue hooded robe over her standard white hood, giving rise to the white inside, blue outside look. This is not visible in the above image, but there are many examples.