Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index


  • Record Number: 4639
  • Author(s)/Creator(s):
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  • Title: God and Gynaecology: "Women's Secrets" in the Dutch "Historiebijbel van 1360"
  • Source: German Life and Letters 50, 4 (October 1997): Pages 390 - 402.
  • Description:
  • Article Type: Journal Article
  • Subject (See Also): Bible- Translations Commentary, Literary Genre Dutch Literature Gynecology Historiebijbel van 1360, Prose Bible Translation Literature- Prose Medicine Menstruation Secreta Mulierum, Medical Text Sources
  • Award Note:
  • Geographic Area: Low Countries
  • Century: 14
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  • Abstract: This paper examines two passages in the Dutch "Historiebijbel van 1360" which are ascribed to Aristotle and discuss the issues of menstruation and multiple births. It discusses the background of this apparently incongruous mingling of God and gynaecology, and addresses some of the questions which arise from these passages. It focusses first on the "Historiebijbel van 1360," then on the tradition of the "Secreta Mulierum," which provides the source of the passages in question. These are then quoted and analysed in the light of their literary and historical context. It is suggested that the more sympathetic tone of the Dutch texts could be related to positive images of women and the association with the Virgin Mary. [Reproduced by permission of Blackwell Publishers at http:/www.blackwellpublishers.co.uk].
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  • Year of Publication: 1997.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN/ISBN: 00168777