Dear list members,
Twice I have come across the story of nuns cutting
off their noses in order to protect their chastity in face of the enemy
(Saracens); once concerning the sisters of the order of St John in Antioch when
the city was besieges in 1267, and once concerning the nuns of the convent of St
Lazarus in Acre during the loss of that city in 1291. Is this a common topos?
Does anyone know other examples?
Thank you very much in advance,
Myra Struckmeyer
UNC-Chapel Hill
