The Incorruptible Flesh: Bodily Mutation and Mortification in Religion and FolkloreCUP Archive, 1988 M04 28 - 286 pages What significance did the body have for the obsessively religious, superstitious, yet materially bound minds of the pre-industrial age? The human body was a constant prey to disease, plague, unhealthy living conditions, the evil effects of druggery and nutritional deficiency, yet the saints seemed to testify to the existence of life beyond this, to a tangible Garden of Eden where all suffering was reversed. The right to entry to this haven was also seen in corporeal terms. The practice of abstemiousness, self-inflicted torture, even the courting of humiliation could trigger visions of beatitude, of the longed-for paradise. In this extraordinary and often astounding book, Professor Camporesi traces these experiences back to various documents across the centuries and explores the juxtaposition of medicine and sorcery, cookery and surgery, pharmacy and alchemy. He opens the window on a fascinating and colourful, if at times violent, world: of levitating and gyrating saints, gardens full of candied fruits and crystalline fountains, amazing exorcisms and arcane medical practices. |
Contents
The impassible saint | 25 |
The dust of Death | 36 |
Superhuman and heavenly life | 46 |
Decay and rebirth | 67 |
Entomata | 90 |
Hypercatharsis | 106 |
The clock of health Bertoldo changes diet | 131 |
Food for heroes | 147 |
Cocks broth The cook and the exorcist | 161 |
Other editions - View all
The Incorruptible Flesh: Bodily Mutation and Mortification in Religion and ... Piero Camporesi No preview available - 2009 |
Common terms and phrases
according angels animals anointed aromatic balm blessed blood boiling Bologna born Camporesi cause century chickpeas Codronchi Copertino corpses corruption Counter-Reformation creatures culture cure dead death decay delights demons disease divine doctors dreams earth earthworms ecstasy embalmed evil excrement exorcistic eyes fear fermentation flesh flowers fragrance Francesco Francesco Redi fruits Girolamo hand head heart hellebore henbane herbs holy honey human body humours hunger Ibid Imola intestine journey juice kind laudanum living magic meat medicine milk monsters Montefalco motherwort musk myrrh nature night odour ointments pain Paolo Boccone paradise patient Patrologia latina perfume Peter Damian plants pleasure poisonous purge putrefaction putrescence remedy rotting saintly saints scent secrets sick smell spirit St John's wort stench stomach suffering sweet taste therapeutic things tormented Torquato Tasso tree vegetable Venezia visionary Vita vomiting vomitories whilst whole wine women worms
References to this book
Worlds of Sense: Exploring the Senses in History and Across Cultures Constance Classen No preview available - 1993 |
Health, Civilization, and the State: A History of Public Health from Ancient ... Dorothy Porter No preview available - 1999 |