Symbol and Art in Mediterranean Cultures. A Hegelian Point of View

The aim of this paper is to define the relationship between art and religion within the context of the three Mediterranean Monotheisms. In order to accomplish this task, I will follow Hegel's precious input, in particular his theoretical explanation of the artistic effort towards the elaboration of an image of the divinity. First, I will briefly study Hegel's description of Islamic and Jewish poetry as the paradigm of the monotheistic impossibility to accomplish an artistic and symbolic representation of Cod; secondly, I will linger on Hegel's description of symbol as artistic instrument of signification; finally, I will follow the line of Hegel's understanding of Christian art as a demonstration of the necessary failure of any temptation towards a sensible representation of the monotheistic divinity.