The reference to blood as a metaphor of kinship does not seem to be medieval. It is true that Latin texts use words like consanguinitas or consanguineus, yet they provide us with just as many examples of the flesh-metaphor for kinship (caro). Generally, the vernacular texts give a much more ...
(Show more)The reference to blood as a metaphor of kinship does not seem to be medieval. It is true that Latin texts use words like consanguinitas or consanguineus, yet they provide us with just as many examples of the flesh-metaphor for kinship (caro). Generally, the vernacular texts give a much more precise idea of medieval representations. It is highly significant, therefore, that the 13th century-translation of the Decretum gratianum into French translates the notions of consanguinitas and consanguinei with other words such as parenté, parents, amis (kinship, relatives, friends). It is only at the end of the Middle Ages that the reference to blood makes a timid appearance in kinship discourse, and possibly the real change in representation occurs not earlier than in the 17th century.
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