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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture Ron, Here's one (I'm copying an old post replying to a slightly different query, so please excuse some possibly off-topic matter): One such pilgrimage site, promoted by its city fathers in the 14th and 15th centuries, was the cathedral of S. Stefano in Prato (Toscana), home since the 12th century of the Sacra Cintola, the girdle of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Although at its core this cult, like that of the well known St. Marina/Margaret of Antioch and elsewhere, focused on assisting women *in* pregnancy, at Prato at least there was a concurrent emphasis as well on assisting barren women *to* pregnancy. Which suggests having a look at cult sites of Marina/Margaret as well to see which of these may have attracted barren women as pilgrims. The history and miracles of the Sacra Cintola at Prato [photo at http://www.pratoartestoria.it/id19.htm] are the subject of a Latin poem by Duccio di Amadore of that city (fl. 1330s). The object itself is publicly displayed five times a year (most notably on 8 September in conjunction with a city fair of very long standing) from an external pulpit originally created by Donatello. Which latter, depending on your definition of "medieval", most or all medieval pilgrims will have arrived too soon to see. A close-up view of this display may be seen at: http://www.prato.turismo.toscana.it/comuni/ita/cintola.htm For a photo showing the audience (but you can still make out the four dudes on the balcony) see: http://www.comune.prato.it/civico/galleria/htm/pho6.htm For three seemingly unretouched photos of the pulpit showing the original formelle in situ (they're said to be now in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo), see: http://www.a-blast.org/www.kfki.hu/~arthp/art/d/donatell/2_mature/prato/pulp it_1.jpg http://www.a-blast.org/www.kfki.hu/~arthp/art/d/donatell/2_mature/prato/pulp it_2.jpg http://www.a-blast.org/www.kfki.hu/~arthp/art/d/donatell/2_mature/prato/pulp it_3.jpg NB: Thanks to the wrapping, you'll have to complete each of these lengthy URLs in your browser once you've gotten most of one in via clicking. The cathedral's Cappella della Sacra Cintola was constructed in the 1390s (and so is definitely medieval) and extensively frescoed by Agnolo Gaddi. For a photo of this now recently restored chapel, see: http://www.pratoartestoria.it/id295.htm Best, John Dillon ********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html