Part two looks at key themes such as mourning, death, encounter with the divine and issues of power and status. Part one places nudity and clothing in ancient Israel in context, with discussions of methodology, the ancient Near Eastern evidence (archaeology, material culture and iconography) and an assessment of central aspects of the biblical material (fabrication and use of textiles, lexicography, theological and anthropological implications). These aspects are all addressed across the volumes three parts. Clothing is indisputably linked to how humans perceive and have perceived nudity, and customs of clothing and their relationship to concepts of nudity provide valuable insights into the norms and values of societies and religions.
Far beyond mere physical protection, clothing functions as a fundamental cultural symbol system: it indicates group identity, gender differentiation, specific occasions, and social status.
