‘In virga Aaron Maria ostendebatur’. A new Interpretation of the Stem of Lilies in the Spanish Gothic Annunciation from Patristic and Theological Sources

Abstract

In clear disagreement with the conventional interpretation of the lily in the iconographic theme of The Annunciation –illustrated with great relevance in the ten Spanish Gothic paintings we discuss here—, this article proposes two new theological explanations of this flower in this biblical scene. We rely for this in many consistent exegesis of prestigious Church Fathers and medieval theologians on the wondrous flourishing of the Aaron’s dry staff. Thus, based in such a perfect exegetic match of Christian thinkers, which certifies in this issue a consolidated dogmatic tradition over nearly a millennium, we try to show that the stem of lilies in the scene of the Annunciation exhibits two Christological and Mariological profound symbolisms, essentially interrelated, i.e.: this stem of irises means at the same time the supernatural human incarnation of God the Son and the virginal divine motherhood of Mary.