Did Botticelli have a Lamu?

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Posted by Catherine Cartwright Jones on April 03, 2000 at 08:32:40:

In the painting "Judith" by Sandro Botticelli, 1469-70 .. Judith, having just decapitated Holofernes (while having her hair wonderfully done up and wearing really spiff gauzy frock) is shown gliding back home carrying a sword and what appears to be a branch of henna. (She had her servant schlep Holifernes's severed head, so she could keep on looking dainty and ethereal) Botticelli used significant and symbolic flora frequently in his paintings ... and if this branch is henna, (it certainly looks exactly like henna) then he was familiar with the traditional use of henna as a part of valor, battle and vengeance (stemming from Anath hennaeing her hands before she destroyed Mot all the enemies of Baal and Aliyan). Henna was used by Turks and Persian for valour in battle during the medieval period, so Botticelli certainly could have known that henna was connected to the "warrior maiden" group of beliefs.

I keep looking for references to henna in Venetian and Florentine paintings during the Renaissance ... because the Turks and Persians were absolutely at their peak in henna technique and skill during that time ... The only reason that I can think of that prevented the Italians from dabbling in henna was that they felt themselves to be enemies of the Moors, and thus didn't adopt many of their customs. That didn't keep the Venetians from bringing in trade goods from the east, and I suspect Titians' redheads hennaed their hair ....

Mehandi from the TapDancing Lizard

Follow Ups:

Still searching. . . P.J. 17:56:56 4/04/00 (1)
- Re: Still searching. . . Catherine Cartwright Jones 20:47:56 4/04/00 (0)
For Those Of You Who Are Curious SeeSee 18:43:20 4/03/00 (5)
- Thank you!!!!! Catherine Cartwright Jones 18:56:11 4/03/00 (4)
  - Re: Thank you!!!!! P.J. 20:59:36 4/05/00 (3)
    - Re: Thank you!!!!! Catherine Cartwright Jones 21:20:18 4/05/00 (2)
      - a year old henna plant Natasha Papousek 08:06:39 4/06/00 (1)
        
        Impressive SeeSee 19:43:49 4/06/00 (0)

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: In the painting "Judith" by Sandro Botticelli, 1469-70 .. Judith, having just decapitated Holofernes (while having her hair wonderfully done up and wearing really spiff gauzy frock) is shown gliding back home carrying a sword and what appears to be a branch of henna. (She had her servant schlep Holifernes's severed head, so she could keep on looking dainty and ethereal) Botticelli used significant and symbolic flora frequently in his paintings ... and if this branch is henna, (it certainly looks exactly like henna) then he was familiar with the traditional use of henna as a part of valor, battle and vengeance (stemming from Anath hennaeing her hands before she destroyed Mot all the enemies of Baal and Aliyan). Henna was used by Turks and Persian for valour in battle during the medieval period, so Botticelli certainly could have known that henna was connected to the "warrior maiden" group of beliefs. : I keep looking for references to henna in Venetian and Florentine paintings during the Renaissance ... because the Turks and Persians were absolutely at their peak in henna technique and skill during that time ... The only reason that I can think of that prevented the Italians from dabbling in henna was that they felt themselves to be enemies of the Moors, and thus didn't adopt many of their customs. That didn't keep the Venetians from bringing in trade goods from the east, and I suspect Titians' redheads hennaed their hair ....

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