Sheela-na-gigs: Unravelling an EnigmaHere Barbara Freitag examines all the literature on the subject since their discovery 160 years ago, highlighting the inconsistencies of the various interpretations in regard to origin, function and name. By considering the Sheela-na-gigs in their medieval social context, she suggests that they were folk deities with particular responsibility for assistance in childbirth. This fascinating survey sheds new light on a controversial phenomenon, and also contains a complete catalogue of all known Sheela-na-gigs, including hitherto unrecorded or unpublished figures.
|
Contents
Section 16 | |
Section 17 | |
Section 18 | |
Section 19 | |
Section 20 | |
Section 21 | |
Section 22 | |
Section 23 | |
Section 9 | |
Section 10 | |
Section 11 | |
Section 12 | |
Section 13 | |
Section 14 | |
Section 15 | |
Section 24 | |
Section 25 | |
Section 26 | |
Section 27 | |
Section 28 | |
Section 29 | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
abdomen Ampney St Peter ancient Andersen Archaeological Arms in front Ballyvourney Bernd Herrmann breasts British Isles Castle Celtic century charms childbirth Christian Clibborn Clonbulloge Clonmacnoise corbel Cork customs dance dead Description Dimensions Dublin early Irish England Etienne Rynne Europe exhibitionist facial features feet turned outwards female fertility figures Fethard Figure carved Folklore front of body Gélis genital area girdles goddess Guest hair hole Ibid idols incised indicated John JRSAI Kilpeck Kiltinane knees legs widely splayed Location London magic Marija Gimbutas McMahon/Roberts medieval Mercier midwife midwives mouth Museum of Ireland navel neck O’Donovan original oval ovoid eyes Oxford pagan Patrick placed pregnant pudenda quoin Ränk referred ribs ritual round head Scotland sculptures Seir Kieran sexual Sheela Sheela-na-gig Síle slab splayed legs squatting St Patrick’s Day stone Studies thighs Tipperary touching tradition Tugford Tullaroan vulva wall wedge nose woman women worship