“Celebrating,” a postcard by Esther Hunt, 1903
Archive for the ‘Incense’ Category
Incense, 1903
Posted in Art, Incense, Postal History on October 5, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Incense in the Alhambra
Posted in Art, Film, Incense, Literature on June 18, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The life of Isabel de Solís has inspired historians, novelists, a film-maker and at least one painter. A young Spanish maiden captured by the Moors circa 1470, Isabel was tossed into the share of plunder that went to Muley Hassan, a.k.a. Abu l-Hasan Ali, ruler of Granada. Hassan was a grumpy old man whose refusal [...]
Incense, 1919
Posted in Art, Incense, Literature on June 15, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The cover of the 1919 Cassell (London) edition of Sax Rohmer’s Dope, with an incense burner in the foreground, its scented smoke working its dark magic on a damsel in distress.
My thanks to the University of Otago’s Straight Jackets: The Art of the Book Jacket.
San Cayetano
Posted in Art, Incense, Religion on May 26, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
San Cayetano/San Gaetano/Saint Cajetan (1480-1547) sought out the sick and poor, and served them, and sought to reform the Roman Catholic Church itself, rather than withdraw from it in the manner of the Protestants.
He founded a hospital for incurables at Venice, where he was devoted to spiritual healing as well as the physical kind. He [...]
The Angel Zadkiel
Posted in Art, Incense, Religion on May 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Zadkiel, “righteousness of God,” is the angel of freedom, benevolence and mercy. He is the patron angel of those who forgive. Zadkiel was said to be the Angel who prevented Abraham from sacrificing his son, Isaac, and is often pictured, paradoxically, holding a dagger.
In studying the lore of angels, I have found that there are [...]
The Angel Jophiel
Posted in Art, Incense, Religion on May 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Jophiel, whose name means “beauty of God,” is another candidate for guardian of the Tree of Knowledge and expeller of Adam and Eve. Day to day, he is the enemy of all who pursue vain knowledge and is often pictured with a flaming sword that he wields to prevent humanity’s return to the Garden of [...]
The Angel Uriel
Posted in Art, Incense, Religion on May 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Uriel’s name means “Light of God” and he is often pictured with a scroll and book. In the apocryphal book of Esdras, he serves as a teacher of God’s ways. In heaven, Uriel is said to be the head of all angels of salvation, light, and peace. He is the light bearer for the Gospel [...]
The Angel Raphael
Posted in Art, Incense, Religion on May 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Raphael’s name means “God’s healing” and he heals sickness of the spirit and the body. In the apocryphal Book of Tobit, he cures Tobit’s blindness, restores his family’s wealth, and makes it possible for Tobit’s son to marry his beloved; after all this, Raphael reveals himself as an angel sent by God to accomplish these [...]
The Angel Chamuel
Posted in Art, Incense, Religion on May 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
In the nineteenth century, Chamuel was said to be “the wrath of God,” and leader of the forces that expelled Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. He was also believed to be the angel who wrestled with Jacob.
More recently, however, Chamuel has been identified as the angel who comforted Jesus in the Garden [...]
The Angel Michael
Posted in Art, Incense, Religion on May 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Michael is the only angel recognized by name in both Christian and Jewish scriptures. He is usually shown carrying a sword or spear with which he has battled Satan in the war of heaven; he is the guardian of the Orthodox faith, a fighter against heresies, the patron saint of warriors.
He is shown above on [...]
