Abstract
According to physiognomy, the character of men may be inferred from their outward physical appearance. Physiognomy is found in some encyclopedias, in medical works and occasionally in political treatises ; in the later Middle Ages, it holds a privileged place in the Secret of Secrets, a work that is at the intersection of several genres. However, the text of the French translation of the Secretum secretorum (itself based on an Arabic treatise) modified the contents of the original chapter on physiognomy, which also now figures at the end of the work. The study of this branch of medieval science in three thirteenth-century treatises reveals its medical and political function. In the case of the Secret of Secrets, some differences between the vernacular version and the Latin text appear significant. This science was no longer being used for medical or political purposes. Rather, its role was now pedagogical : physiognomy thus invites the reader to claim a certain autonomy vis-a-vis scientific tradition.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
