Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index


  • Title: Siege of Castle of Love and Tournament
  • Creator:
  • Description: Male soldiers tilt at one another as a number of ladies watch from above, pointing and appearing to talk about the men. The falcons in this scene are symbols of passionate desire and are often found in texts and images of courtly love. On the outer panel on the right, a soldier kneels in supplication to a woman who holds a large key while another soldier climbs up a ladder where two ladies each hold out a rose (a symbol of courtly love that carried erotic overtones). On the outer left panel, a soldier loads a catapult that he intends to launch at the women, while a woman brandishes a flower and Cupid prepares to shoots a flaming arrow of love at the soldier.
  • Source: Wikimedia Commons
  • Rights: Public domain
  • Subject (See Also): Castles Courtly Love Cupid (Literary Figure) Tournaments Weapons
  • Geographic Area: France
  • Century: 14
  • Date: ca. 1325-1350
  • Related Work:
  • Current Location: London, British Museum, 1856,0623.166
  • Original Location:
  • Artistic Type (Category): Digital images; Sculptures
  • Artistic Type (Material/Technique): Ivory
  • Donor:
  • Height/Width/Length(cm): //
  • Inscription:
  • Related Resources: