09-02-2020, 01:28 AM
The problem is that there are various female nouns which could underlie the preference for female forms, even dragging male figures into androgyny. For example, Diane thought about "horae". Personally I think a term like "embodiment", the abstract in human form, covers the most bases. But I'm not sure which word in which medieval language describes this the best.
I agree with David that it would be most worthwhile to see what we can say about this on a theory-independent level.
For example, take the central pool pages (Q13B). Is it reasonable to put forward that these human figures cannot be read as literal bathers given the use of the female nude in all these various contexts? I would say yes, we must assume a more abstract meaning despite convincing partial parallels with Balneis imagery. (I still have no theory about the pool pages).
I agree with David that it would be most worthwhile to see what we can say about this on a theory-independent level.
For example, take the central pool pages (Q13B). Is it reasonable to put forward that these human figures cannot be read as literal bathers given the use of the female nude in all these various contexts? I would say yes, we must assume a more abstract meaning despite convincing partial parallels with Balneis imagery. (I still have no theory about the pool pages).