Images of Women in Ancient and Medieval History Is Sarah Pomeroy’s title suitable: Goddesses, Whores, Wives and Slaves?

Images of Women in Images of Women in Ancient and Medieval Ancient and Medieval

HistoryHistory

Is Sarah Pomeroy’s title Is Sarah Pomeroy’s title suitable: Goddesses, Whores, suitable: Goddesses, Whores,

Wives and Slaves?Wives and Slaves?

Who was she? What do the Who was she? What do the images tell you about her?images tell you about her?

Queen Nefertiti (ruled 1341-1337 Queen Nefertiti (ruled 1341-1337 BCE) birth-death unknownBCE) birth-death unknown

Statue dates to c. 1360 BCE – discovered in Statue dates to c. 1360 BCE – discovered in 1913 in Egypt1913 in Egypt

Now in the Egyptian Museum in Berlin, Now in the Egyptian Museum in Berlin, GermanyGermany

On her husband’s (Pharaoh Akhenaten) On her husband’s (Pharaoh Akhenaten) stelae: "And the heiress, great in the palace, stelae: "And the heiress, great in the palace, fair of face, adorned with the double plumes, fair of face, adorned with the double plumes, mistress of happiness, endowed with favours, mistress of happiness, endowed with favours, at hearing whose voice the king rejoices, the at hearing whose voice the king rejoices, the chief wife of the king, his beloved, the lady of chief wife of the king, his beloved, the lady of the two lands, the two lands, NefertitiNefertiti, may she live for ever , may she live for ever and always."and always."


Judith c. 610 – 650 BCEJudith c. 610 – 650 BCE King Nebuchadnezzar (605-562 BCE) of Babylon King Nebuchadnezzar (605-562 BCE) of Babylon

built a huge empire, defeating the Egyptians and built a huge empire, defeating the Egyptians and taking Syria/Palestine in as well. This included taking Syria/Palestine in as well. This included the Jews, who were taken as prisoners.the Jews, who were taken as prisoners.

They also included Judith: widowed, beautiful and They also included Judith: widowed, beautiful and descended from the “son of Israel” (Judith 8:1)descended from the “son of Israel” (Judith 8:1)

She gave herself up as a slave to Holofernes, She gave herself up as a slave to Holofernes, Babylonian general, and then got him drunk and Babylonian general, and then got him drunk and cut off his head and gave it to her servant (Judith cut off his head and gave it to her servant (Judith 13:8-10)13:8-10)

Note the difference between Caravaggio’s Note the difference between Caravaggio’s depiction on the left (1598) and Artemesia depiction on the left (1598) and Artemesia Gentileschi’s on the right (1620)Gentileschi’s on the right (1620)


6’6”

Venus/Aphrodite/DionaeaVenus/Aphrodite/Dionaea

Greek/Roman God of the love that Greek/Roman God of the love that leads to marriage, to the rise of great leads to marriage, to the rise of great civilizations and to horrible warscivilizations and to horrible wars

One of twelve Greek divinitiesOne of twelve Greek divinities Gave life to Cupid and GalateaGave life to Cupid and Galatea The statue was discovered in 1820 The statue was discovered in 1820

and was created in 2and was created in 2ndnd century BCE century BCE The painting is Botticelli’s (1484)The painting is Botticelli’s (1484)


Helen of TroyHelen of Troy

““the face that launched a thousand the face that launched a thousand ships”ships”

Father was Zeus, mother was Leda Father was Zeus, mother was Leda (queen of Spartans)(queen of Spartans)

She married Menelaus but was She married Menelaus but was abducted by Paris and taken to Troyabducted by Paris and taken to Troy

This became the reason for the ten-This became the reason for the ten-year Trojan War, the Trojan Horse, the year Trojan War, the Trojan Horse, the Achilles’ heel, the stuff of legendsAchilles’ heel, the stuff of legends


Cleopatra – 69 – 30 BCECleopatra – 69 – 30 BCE Born in 69 BCE as the Egyptian (Ptolemaic) Empire Born in 69 BCE as the Egyptian (Ptolemaic) Empire

was crumbling and the Roman Empire growing – was crumbling and the Roman Empire growing – became Queen at 17 years oldbecame Queen at 17 years old

Broke Egyptian law by refusing to have a male Broke Egyptian law by refusing to have a male consort to make joint decisionsconsort to make joint decisions

Had children by Julius Caesar and Marcus AnthonyHad children by Julius Caesar and Marcus Anthony Took her own life by snakebite for immortalityTook her own life by snakebite for immortality Last Egyptian Pharaoh as the Roman Empire took Last Egyptian Pharaoh as the Roman Empire took

over Egypt with her deathover Egypt with her death The stone carving is from the temple of Hathor, and The stone carving is from the temple of Hathor, and

shows Cleopatra with her son by Caesar, Caesarionshows Cleopatra with her son by Caesar, Caesarion The photo still is Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra The photo still is Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra

dressed as Isis – Hollywood built on a well-dressed as Isis – Hollywood built on a well-established themeestablished theme


Who is he?

Mary, Mother of Jesus c. 25 BCE – 35 AD)Mary, Mother of Jesus c. 25 BCE – 35 AD)

Most often pictured with Jesus, she is Most often pictured with Jesus, she is the “Madonna” of the “Madonna/whore” the “Madonna” of the “Madonna/whore” dichotomy in literaturedichotomy in literature

The painting on the left is one of many The painting on the left is one of many paintings of Mary by Raphael (1505)paintings of Mary by Raphael (1505)

The painting on the right is by Lucas The painting on the right is by Lucas Van Leyden (1522) and features Mary Van Leyden (1522) and features Mary Magdalene and a donorMagdalene and a donor


Salome (no birth/death, but maybe Salome (no birth/death, but maybe between 5BCE – 30AD)between 5BCE – 30AD)

This may be a bit harsh, but she is the This may be a bit harsh, but she is the “Whore” of the “Madonna/Whore” “Whore” of the “Madonna/Whore” dichotomydichotomy

Sparse Biblical reference, but Sparse Biblical reference, but demanded the head of St. John the demanded the head of St. John the Baptist from her step-father, HerodBaptist from her step-father, Herod

Performed the dance of the seven Performed the dance of the seven veils: perverse, cunning, beautiful, veils: perverse, cunning, beautiful, seductiveseductive

Depicted as a vision of great evilDepicted as a vision of great evil


Boadicea – c. 30 AD – 62-63 ADBoadicea – c. 30 AD – 62-63 AD

Led the Iceni Celts in Britain against the Led the Iceni Celts in Britain against the Roman Empire in 61 ADRoman Empire in 61 AD

Born into aristocracy and wife of King Born into aristocracy and wife of King Prasutagus, who died in 61 ADPrasutagus, who died in 61 AD

His will did not leave everything to Nero, so His will did not leave everything to Nero, so the Roman soldiers came to take it by forcethe Roman soldiers came to take it by force

Boadicea raised a huge army of rebels against Boadicea raised a huge army of rebels against the Romans, burned Colchester to the ground, the Romans, burned Colchester to the ground, and nearly defeated the Roman army in and nearly defeated the Roman army in EnglandEngland

She is presumed to have poisoned herself She is presumed to have poisoned herself after the Roman defeat of the Iceni in 62-63 after the Roman defeat of the Iceni in 62-63 ADAD


Eleanor of Aquitaine - (1122-1204 AD)Eleanor of Aquitaine - (1122-1204 AD) Married to Louis VII and Queen of France at 15 Married to Louis VII and Queen of France at 15

years old, at 19 she offered thousands of servants years old, at 19 she offered thousands of servants to the Second Crusade, as well as herself and 300 to the Second Crusade, as well as herself and 300 women to “tend the wounded”women to “tend the wounded”

1152 marriage annulled, within the year she 1152 marriage annulled, within the year she married Henry of Anjou who would become Henry married Henry of Anjou who would become Henry II of EnglandII of England

Stormy relationship included her rebellion against Stormy relationship included her rebellion against Henry with her three sons – she was imprisoned Henry with her three sons – she was imprisoned for fifteen years after they lostfor fifteen years after they lost

Even after Henry died, the stormy relationships Even after Henry died, the stormy relationships continued, she fought against her son John and continued, she fought against her son John and on behalf of Richard (the lion-heart)on behalf of Richard (the lion-heart)

The portrait is by artist unknown, date unknownThe portrait is by artist unknown, date unknown The stained glass appears in Hötel de Ville, The stained glass appears in Hötel de Ville,

PoitiersPoitiers


Joan of Arc - 1412(?) -1431 ADJoan of Arc - 1412(?) -1431 AD

Born in a poor region of France, self-Born in a poor region of France, self-proclaimed “shepherd girl”proclaimed “shepherd girl”

Led the French in their defence of Led the French in their defence of their homeland against the Britishtheir homeland against the British

Burned as a heretic by the EnglishBurned as a heretic by the English No image existed of Joan of Arc until No image existed of Joan of Arc until

after her death.after her death.


Queen Isabella – 1451-1504 ADQueen Isabella – 1451-1504 AD

Her marriage in 1479 to Ferdinand, King of Her marriage in 1479 to Ferdinand, King of Aragon united Spain under Castile and Aragon united Spain under Castile and Aragon ruleAragon rule

Acting with equal authority, they reduced Acting with equal authority, they reduced the power of the noblesthe power of the nobles

They began the Inquisition in 1480, aimed They began the Inquisition in 1480, aimed mainly at Jews and Muslimsmainly at Jews and Muslims

1492 – big year for Spain – they defeat 1492 – big year for Spain – they defeat Muslims, expel Jews and commission Muslims, expel Jews and commission ColumbusColumbus


Queen Elizabeth I – 1533-1603Queen Elizabeth I – 1533-1603 ““illegitimate” Daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleynillegitimate” Daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn Portrait on left is by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger Portrait on left is by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger

(c. 1592)(c. 1592) Portrait on right is attributed to George Gower (c. Portrait on right is attributed to George Gower (c.

1588)1588) During her reign:During her reign:

firm establishment of the Church of Englandfirm establishment of the Church of England relative peace and prosperityrelative peace and prosperity increase in foreign trade and explorationincrease in foreign trade and exploration flourishing literary cultureflourishing literary culture defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588 never married; the “virgin queen”never married; the “virgin queen”

ConclusionConclusion

While While goddesses, whores, wives and slaves goddesses, whores, wives and slaves are a part of the iconography of women in are a part of the iconography of women in antiquity, these images also demonstrate a antiquity, these images also demonstrate a different story, one which includes different story, one which includes warriors, warriors, queens, mothers and saintsqueens, mothers and saints

Yet these images bring further questions to Yet these images bring further questions to the surface – the majority are created by the surface – the majority are created by men, even those depicting powerful women. men, even those depicting powerful women. Piecing together women’s history is a difficult Piecing together women’s history is a difficult task because the images and written task because the images and written documents (often male creations) must be documents (often male creations) must be deconstructed.deconstructed.

The trouble with this approachThe trouble with this approach In addition to the difficulty categorizing In addition to the difficulty categorizing

these women, they suggest another problem these women, they suggest another problem in approach – the tokens and the trailblazers.in approach – the tokens and the trailblazers.

These women are not typical nor These women are not typical nor representative of their times – their representative of their times – their exceptional backgrounds or personalities exceptional backgrounds or personalities raise them up as standards that, like Barbie, raise them up as standards that, like Barbie, Margaret Thatcher and Serena Williams, are Margaret Thatcher and Serena Williams, are virtually impossible to match.virtually impossible to match.

What women’s historians try to do more, What women’s historians try to do more, then, is to find out about women’s lives and then, is to find out about women’s lives and experiences experiences lived as womenlived as women, rather than , rather than those of the elite, or “manly”those of the elite, or “manly”

Documents

Images of Women in Ancient and Medieval History Is Sarah Pomeroy’s title suitable: Goddesses, Whores, Wives and Slaves?