Kuehn, The Dragon In Medieval East Christian An... Online

Reliefs on city gates (e.g., Baghdad and Aleppo) and church facades.

This work explores the visual language and shared symbolism of the dragon across the Islamic world and Eastern Christendom (Byzantium, Armenia, Georgia, and Syria) from the 11th to the 13th centuries. Kuehn argues that the dragon was not merely a monster to be slain, but a complex cosmological figure representing power, protection, and the cyclical nature of time. Key Themes Kuehn, The Dragon in Medieval East Christian an...

Analyzes the "pearl-boring" dragon and the "knotted" dragon body. Reliefs on city gates (e

Explains its role in representing the pseudo-planetary force that "swallows" the sun and moon. Material Culture Studied Key Themes Analyzes the "pearl-boring" dragon and the

Traces how Central Asian and Chinese motifs merged with Mediterranean traditions.

Kuehn’s research highlights the "Common Culture" of the medieval Near East. She demonstrates that despite religious differences, Christian and Muslim artists used a nearly identical visual vocabulary to express fears of the unknown and the majesty of the divine.

Lusterware and molded tiles featuring "knotted" serpentine forms. Significance