I may be way off track here--end of a long semester, mental fatigue, yada
yada--but isn't this an old motif? I am remembering depictions (although I
can't supply refs) of Anglo-Saxon women baring their breasts at the edge of
battlefields when things were going bad for the home team to remind sons,
brothers, fathers, of why they were fighting. The gesture said, "These are
the breasts that nourished you, the symbol of family and home; don't let
them fall into the wrong hands (figuratively speaking, of course) because we
all know what happens to the women of the losing side." The action was
intended to give the warriors renewed energy and determination to avoid
defeat.
Cheers,
Clint
_______________________
Dr. Clinton Atchley
Department of English
Henderson State University
Box 7652
Arkadelphia, AR 71999
870.230.5276
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----- Original Message -----
From: Carlos Sastre <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, May 05, 2000 1:24 PM
Subject: RE: Virgin Mary showing her breast
Alfonso X, in his Cantigas de Santa Maria, gives an example (Cantiga LXXX):
"E en aquel día, quan'ele for mais irado/ móstra-ll'as tetas santas que ouv'
el mamado"
"And that day, when He was more angry/ She shows Him the holy teats He once
suckled"
with a miniature illuminating the verse (although the text uses the plural,
the image depicts the Virgin with just one bare breast)
Hope that it helps
Carlos
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