by Sivan Gottlieb (University of Granada)

In the Middle Ages, diagrams were used for a variety of purposes. They were intended, for example, to prove theories in fields such as mathematics, to present information more clearly, and to promote the comprehension of concepts, both simple and complex.[1] They also served as mnemonic aids for memorizing and recalling information. These diagrams took on various geometric shapes, such as squares and circles, which were specialized for representing different types of content.[2] In addition to these basic forms, more unique shapes were also common, such as the hand figure. The hand was equated with knowledge,[3] and people of the time used it to document, organize, and memorize diverse types of information. Why were the hand figures so popular, and which types of knowledge were suitable for representation through such hands?