Bodies and Boundaries: Exploring Hybridity, Animality, and Gender in the Ambrosian Tanakh

Key Points

• This article aims to investigate the connections between human and animal representations in the Ambrosian Tanakh and their implications for gender perception.
• Examination of the illuminated panels in the Ambrosian Tanakh
• Analysis of the connections between human and animal representations in the context of medieval Ashkenaz
• Discussion of the multiple interpretations prompted by the imagery for viewers.
• The illuminated word panel reveals a blend of human and animal characteristics, influencing viewers' perceptions of bodies.
• The discussion highlights how the image challenges normative and non-normative ideas about gender in medieval society.
• Connections are drawn between the visual representations and textual narratives like the Alexander Romance.