Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index


  • Record Number: 8183
  • Author(s)/Creator(s): Dor , Juliette.
  • Contributor(s):
  • Title: The Sheela-na-Gig: An Incongruous Sign of Sexual Purity? [The author argues for a complex reading of the sheela na gig statues, naked women displaying their vulvas. Dor contextualizes them with references to Celtic goddesses as well as the sovereignty myth in which the old hag turns into a beautiful maiden. In concluding the author suggests that medieval audiences might have had different reactions and that the sculptures lend themselves to multiple readings. Title note supplied by Feminae.]
  • Source: Medieval Virginities.  Edited by Anke Bernau, Ruth Evans, and Sarah Salih.  Religion and Culture in the Middle Ages series. University of Wales Press; University of Toronto Press, 2003.  Pages 33 - 55.
  • Description:
  • Article Type: Essay
  • Subject (See Also): Art History- Sculpture Goddesses- Celtic Ireland Sexuality in Art Sheela-Na-Gigs, Carved Figures of Naked Females That Emphasize the Genitals of Naked Females That Emphasize the Genitals Virginity Women in Art
  • Award Note:
  • Geographic Area: British Isles
  • Century: General
  • Primary Evidence:
  • Illustrations: One Illustration. Figure One Sheela-na-Gig from Seirkieran, County Offaly.
  • Table:
  • Abstract:
  • Related Resources:
  • Author's Affiliation: University of Liège, Belgium
  • Conference Info: - , -
  • Year of Publication: 2003.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN/ISBN: 0802089607