Why medieval people spoke of bells as if they were alive
In short: When a church bell is removed from its tower, it appears as a cold, inanimate object. This video explores the fascinating way bells were humanised in medieval thought and how that perspective persists today.
In this performance by Catherine King, the lecture examines the linguistic and cultural tendency to attribute human qualities to bells. While a bell resting on the ground might seem like a massive, dead object, medieval tradition treated them as more than mere metal.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: From the Lips of Bells: The Humanisation of Bells - performed by Catherine King
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