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Hand of God and Hand of Humans in Art
(952 words)

[German Version]

I. Ancient to Pre-Roman Times – II. From Roman Times

I. Ancient to Pre-Roman Times

From its earliest beginnings, ancient art reflected the central role of the hand in sign language. Hands were raised in prayer, incantation, greeting, blessing, and in delivering a blow. Hands were raised in entreaty and in mourning, or were thrown in the air in triumph. Hostility was averted with an extended hand and fingers or the fist. Parties to a cont…

Cite this page
Schroer, Silvia and Koch, Guntram, “Hand of God and Hand of Humans in Art”, in: Religion Past and Present. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1877-5888_rpp_COM_09286>
First published online: 2011
First print edition: ISBN: 9789004146662, 2006-2013



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