A Contextual Reading of Ethiopian Crosses through Form and Ritual: Kaleidoscopes of Meaning

Table of Contents ..................................................................................... v
Preface ...................................................................................................... vii
Acknowledgements ................................................................................. xi
Introduction .............................................................................................. 1
Chapter one. Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity ................................. 29
Chapter two. The cross in the context of Ethiopian Christian
culture .............................................................................................. 63
A note on terminology ................................................................. 74
Introducing the material ............................................................... 77
Types and functions of Ethiopian crosses ................................ 82
Symbolism in Christian Ethiopian culture .............................. 119
Chapter three. Interpreting Ethiopian crosses: the symbolic
language of form .......................................................................... 131
The textile-like references of open work: a multilayered
symbol .................................................................................. 132
Visualizing the social fabric on Ethiopian crosses ................. 184
The image of the honeycomb in the body of Ethiopian
crosses .................................................................................. 200
Materiality and immateriality: sanctifying the world in all its
dimensions ........................................................................... 207
The cross and the Tree of Life: from theology to daily
experience ............................................................................ 216
The cross and the waters of life: universal symbols and
local meanings ..................................................................... 235
Inscribing holiness: saints on Ethiopian crosses .................... 249
Inscribing Ethiopia on the cross: Mary and the Ark of the
Covenant .............................................................................. 268
Chapter four. A theoretical approach to Ethiopian crosses: The
fabric of ritual and the tree of culture ...................................... 299
Visibility ........................................................................................ 299
Constructing meaning: investigating terms of fluidity and
multiplicity ........................................................................... 315
Conclusion. Ethiopian crosses as timeful generative assemblies
of meaning and doing ................................................................. 341
Timefulness .................................................................................. 342
Meaning and doing ...................................................................... 345
Generative assembly ................................................................... 347
Bibliography .......................................................................................... 351