Professor Priscilla Hunt Delivers Lecture

On May 7, 2003 Holy Trinity Seminary was privileged to host a lecture given by Professor Priscilla Hunt, a Five College Associate from Amherst, MA on "The Wisdom Icon and the Star: At the Intersection of Aesthetics and Theology". Professor Hunt explained, in a fascinating talk, which included slides illustrating her presentation, what many of us overlook. In many icons there appears an iconographic representation of light behind the Saviour. The geometric symbols used by the iconographer combine to form a star and a circle. Professor Hunt explained, "I will look at these composition's surface imagery from the point of view of two geometrical symbols respectively, the double triad and the circle. I will then describe how these meanings are embedded in the hidden geometrical symbolism of the star if seen with the intellectual eyes. I will thus show that the star crystallizes the function of the iconography to symbolize God's manifestation as light." Through the use of Scripture, Holy Fathers, and diagrams Prof. Hunt brought the audience's attention to the fact that what we observe is not just ornament or simple iconographic representation of heavenly light but in fact something with a far greater theological significance than is immediately apparent to the uninformed worshiper. Our understanding of the theological/aesthetic meaning of these representations was greatly enhanced and deepened by Professor Hunt's presentation, for which we are very grateful.