Images of Lust: Sexual Carvings on Medieval Churches

Front Cover
Routledge, 2013 M04 15 - 168 pages
Sexually explicit sculptures may be found on a number of medieval churches in France and Spain. This fascinating study examines the origins and purposes of these sculptures, viewing them not as magical fertility symbols, nor even as idols of ancient pre-Christian religions, but as serious works that dealt with the sexual customs and salvation of medieval folk, and thus gave support to the Church's moral teachings.
 

Contents

Introduction
Sheelanagig
Ugly as
The Romanesque background
The entertainers
Mermaids centaurs and other hybrid monsters
La femme aux serpents lhomme aux serpents and lavare
Disgust for the flesh
Rude gestures and ruder postures
More female exhibitionists
The distribution of sexual carvings
Exhibitionists and Folklore
Epilogue
Bibliography
Gazetteer
Index

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About the author (2013)

James Jerman, after retiring from the School of Education at Leicester University, continues to be a part-time tutor in local history in the Department of Adult Education. Anthony Weir is a freelance photographer and artist and travelled widely in Europe to draw illustrations and take photographs for this book.

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