Binding and Unbinding<b>:</b> <b>The Knotted Serpents on the Lining of the So-called Mantle of Roger II (528/1133–4)</b>

Abstract In a recent thought-provoking analysis of the iconography on the exterior of the Mantle of Roger II (r. 1105–1154), the Norman ruler of Sicily and southern Italy, William Tronzo has advanced a compelling hypothesis suggesting that the Mantle may actually have been intended to serve as Roger’s shroud. This article examines the intriguing but rarely discussed figured silks found within the Mantle’s lining to assess whether their iconography aligns with Tronzo ’s hypothesis, which focuses primarily on the Mantle’s exterior. The interior consists of a patchwork of silk fragments inserted into the famous garment as a relic-like lining, revealing a fascinating but often overlooked iconography: knotted serpents. Continuing an earlier practice, the repetition of the knotted serpent motif appears to have been deliberately employed to reinforce a beneficial effect, perhaps invoking the notion of unceasing, everlasting protection. This study contextualizes the richly multivalent symbol of the knotted serpent within the broader realm of southern Italian iconography, as well as its significance in the wider Mediterranean world and beyond. In particular, the research incorporates a fascinating discovery: a previously unnoticed silk fragment from the Afghan province of Samangan, now in the Al-Sabāh Collection in Kuwait. This fragment bears striking similarities to the textiles used in the cloak’s lining, further enriching our understanding of its cultural and historical import.