noli-me-tangere

Noli me Tangere by Hans Holbein the Younger

Noli me tangere, meaning "don't touch me", is the Latin version of words spoken, according to John 20:17, by Jesus to Mary Magdalene after his resurrection.

The words were a popular trope in Gregorian chant, and the moment in which they were spoken was a popular subject for paintings.

It has been pointed out that the original phrase, Μή μου ἅπτου, in the Gospel of John, which was written in Greek, is better represented in translation as cease holding on to me or stop clinging to me.^[1]

Other uses

• Noli Me Tangere is also the title of a novel written by Filipino writer and national hero José Rizal in the 19th century.

• Sir Thomas Wyatt mentions this phrase in one of his sonnets, 'Whoso list to hunt', which is thought to be about Anne Boleyn.

• Noli Me Tangere is the motto of US 3rd Infantry Regiment, the United States' oldest active infantry regiment.

• Noli Me Tangere is also the motto of the 321st Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82D Airborne Division.

• The phrase is used in an episode of the X-Files, "Hollywood A.D.," featuring a legendary Lazarus Bowl which was able to raise the dead.

• The phrase Noli Me Tangere is also the official words of the House Tobin.

References

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Noli me tangere

• Resurrection appearances of Jesus for a discussion of the verse.

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