This module examines visualisations of Jerusalem in the medieval West. We will begin by exploring the history and significance of key sites in Jerusalem itself (such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Mount of Olives), and consider the ways in which information regarding them was transmitted and visually translated in the West. The main part of the module will be devoted to analysing and comparing representations of Jerusalem and of the events that were believed to have taken place there.
We will examine the concepts and the symbolism which informed their creation, as well as exploring the cultural, religious, and political contexts of their making and use. In this way, we will assess the role of Jerusalem in the Western imagination, and the relationship between changing visualisations of the city and broader developments such as the crusades, pilgrimage and contemporary trends in theological study. The main focus will be on the Christian imagery of Jerusalem, but Jewish and Islamic traditions will also be considered.
By the end of the module students should have acquired:
Module code HOA00056I