medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
--- Nancy Caciola <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval
> religion and culture
>
> Dear Margaret,
>
> There is an exemplum about a statue of Venus that
> comes to life.
Prosper Mérimée wrote a French version of this story
but I can't for the life of me remember the title:
something "La Vénus de (place). As I recall the statue
crushes the young man to death for trifling with her.
(I'm really being helpful tonight, aren't I?)
MG
The
> details escape me at the moment, as I read it long
> ago, but perhaps someone
> else will recognize it and can correct or amplify my
> memory. I believe it
> involves a young man who takes off his ring ---
> perhaps preparatory to
> playing some kind of game? --- and places it on the
> hand of a statue of
> Venus for safekeeping. Venus closes her palm and
> refuses to give it back;
> later, Venus appears to the young man and claims to
> be his bride because he
> gave her the ring. I think she may even keep him
> away from his intended
> human bride for a while.
>
> Sorry I can't be more specific about the details,
> but the ring given to
> Venus motif does have an entry in Frederic Tubach,
> *Index Exemplorum: A
> Handbook of Medieval Religious Tales.* (Helsinki,
> 1969), # 4101 & 4103.
> This will lead you to several variants on the story,
> including (among others):
>
> *An Alphabet of Tales: An English 15th Century
> translation of the
> Alphabetum Narrationum of Etienne de Besancon* ed.
> M. Banks, EETS vols.
> 126-127; cf. tale numbered 730.
>
> Also look in: *Catalogue of Romances in the
> Department of Manuscripts of
> the British Museum* vol. III, ed. J. Herbert,
> (London, 1910).
>
> Best,
>
> Nancy Caciola
>
> At 04:16 PM 7/30/01 -0400, you wrote:
> >medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of
> medieval religion and culture
> >
> >Thanks to all for suggestions regarding anchoresses
> etc. I now
> >have lots to work on in this area! I also have
> another query,
> >which actually originates with an acquaintance, but
> I thought the
> >list might be able to help. Its for an interesting
> article on the
> >influence of hagiography in scandinavian
> literature.
> >the query: do you know of any medieval stories,
> miracles, whatever
> >involving either an IDOL OR a STATUE OF A SAINT
> >that speaks, moves, or walks? a pagan idol which
> "comes to life"
> >would be perfect - has anyone heard of such a
> thing?
> >If so, please send me bibliographic references that
> are as
> >detailed as possible. I am writing from iceland,
> not south
> >carolina, and will probably have to order anything
> i need
> >on inter-library loan.
> >thanks in advance,
> >Margaret Cormack
> [log in to unmask]
> >Dept. of Philosophy and Religion fax:
> 843-953-6388
> >College of Charleston tel:
> 843-953-8033
> >Charleston, SC 29424-0001
> >
>
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