The Body: Lived, Cultured, Adorned: Essays on Dress and the Body in the Bible and Ancient Near East in Honor of Nili S. Fox

Nili S. Fox's scholarship focuses on the clothed and adorned body, drawing on anthropology and archaeology to locate the text within its native cultural environment. This volume is a tribute to Fox, with essays on dress and the body by her students, demonstrating how dress and the body communicate cultural and religious beliefs and practices.

Format: Hardback
Length: 550 pages
Publication date: 15 October 2022
Publisher: Hebrew Union College Press,U.S.

Nili S. Fox's scholarship has placed a significant emphasis on the clothed and adorned body. In her distinctive approach, she incorporates theoretical models from anthropology and archaeology, while also contextualizing the text within its native cultural environment in dialogue with ancient Near Eastern literary and iconographic sources. This volume serves as a tribute to Fox, featuring a collection of essays on dress and the body with original research conducted by her students. As the field of dress increasingly attracts the interest of biblical and Ancient Near Eastern scholars alike, this book contributes to the growing literature on the topic, showcasing how dress and the body convey cultural and religious beliefs and practices.

Section one, titled "The Body Lived," delves into the experiential aspects of the body. It explores the relationship between the body and the social construction of identity, examining how individuals perceive and interpret their bodies in relation to societal norms and expectations.

Section two, titled "The Body Cultured," examines the cultural influences on the body and how they shape its appearance, behavior, and practices. It explores the role of clothing, beauty, and body modification in constructing and expressing identity within different cultures and historical periods.

Section three, titled "The Body Adorned," focuses on the performative nature of dress in the biblical text. It analyzes how dress is used as a means of communication, expression, and power within the biblical narratives and explores the ways in which it contributes to the storytelling and interpretation of the text.

Through her scholarship, Nili S. Fox has made groundbreaking contributions to the study of dress and the body. Her approach combines theoretical insights with a deep understanding of cultural contexts, providing a rich and nuanced understanding of the ways in which clothing and the body shape human experiences and interactions. This volume serves as a valuable resource for scholars and students interested in the intersection of dress, culture, and religion, offering fresh perspectives and insights into this important field.

Weight: 1010g
Dimension: 235 x 158 x 35 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780878206087