Medieval History
A recent article on sexuality and childbirth in early medieval Ireland reveals some surprising attitudes towards abortion held among the Christians during this period, and that hagiographical texts recount four Irish saints performing abortions.
'Of Vanishing Fetuses and Maidens Made-Again: Abortion, Restored Virginity, and Similar Scenarios in Medieval Irish Hagiography and Penitentials', by Maeve Callan, appears in the latest issue of the Journal of the History of Sexuality. Callan examines a wide range of hagiographical works and other sources from medieval Ireland. She writes, ?these accounts celebrate saints who perform abortions, restore female fornicators to a virginal state, contemplate infanticide, and result from incest and other ?illegitimate? sexual unions. Moreover, the texts themselves generally reflect a remarkably permissive attitude toward these traditionally taboo acts, an attitude also found in Irish penitentials and law codes.?
Click here to read this article from Medievalists.net
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Medieval History
Research examines the ?abortionist saints? of medieval Ireland
A recent article on sexuality and childbirth in early medieval Ireland reveals some surprising attitudes towards abortion held among the Christians during this period, and that hagiographical texts recount four Irish saints performing abortions.
'Of Vanishing Fetuses and Maidens Made-Again: Abortion, Restored Virginity, and Similar Scenarios in Medieval Irish Hagiography and Penitentials', by Maeve Callan, appears in the latest issue of the Journal of the History of Sexuality. Callan examines a wide range of hagiographical works and other sources from medieval Ireland. She writes, ?these accounts celebrate saints who perform abortions, restore female fornicators to a virginal state, contemplate infanticide, and result from incest and other ?illegitimate? sexual unions. Moreover, the texts themselves generally reflect a remarkably permissive attitude toward these traditionally taboo acts, an attitude also found in Irish penitentials and law codes.?
Click here to read this article from Medievalists.net
- Communication And Cultural Contacts In The North Atlantic Community
Dr Máire Ní Mhaonaigh writes: Several members of the Department journeyed to Oslo last week to participate in a seminar and workshop on the broad theme of ?Communication and Cultural Contacts in the North Atlantic Community 1000-1300?, hosted by Professor...
- Ireland: So What Have The Romans Ever Done For Us?
The Roman General Agricola reportedly says he can take and hold Ireland with a single legion. Some archaeologists have claimed the Romans did campaign in Ireland, but most see no evidence for an invasion. Imperial Rome and this island on its far western...
- Study On Early Medieval Ireland Shows Importance Of Cows And Milk
A recently published article has found that cows and the milk they made were a vital part of Irish agriculture and society during the Early Middle Ages. "The Decline of the Cow: Agriculture and Settlement Change in Early Medieval Ireland," was written...
- Sexuality In Late Medieval Iceland
Is there anything more private than sexuality? And more political? Sexuality has always been used for political purposes, and there are many examples of historical changes where political and sexual strategies of power have interacted. In his dissertation,...
- Universal Saints Located In Anglo-saxon England
Universal Saints Located in Anglo-Saxon England Within the growing field of Anglo-Saxon hagiographical studies, much academic emphasis has been placed on peculiarly English saints such as Oswald, Swithun, Cuthbert and Guthlac.While the study of these...