The Representation of Literary Motifs in Visual Arts (in Connection with the Magic Belts of Job and His Daughters)

Abstract

Abstract Medieval literature and visual art provide one area of cross-fertilization. The current paper pays special attention to the analysis of the relations between the iconography of Job and its links with oral and written literary tradition. I examine interrelationship between the apocryphal tradition and iconography as illustrated by reference to the 'magic belts' of Job's daughters. I propose that the ability of Job's daughters to understand the language of angels may be linked with their wearing lor(os) which was part of the Byzantine imperial costume and also the angels' attire. In addition, the ribbons commonly found on the heads of angels may be linked with such glossolalia.