Routledge Mary Magdalene in Medieval Culture - Routledge Studies

This innovative multidisciplinary collection examines representations and interpretations of Mary Magdalene across medieval and early modern periods, challenging established scholarly assumptions about female saints and their depictions in artworks, literature, and music. Explore how Mary Magdalene's diverse characterizations-from reformed prostitute to conversion-figure to Christ's devotee to apostle to the apostles to spiritual advisor and desert hermit-shaped conflicted medieval narratives. The volume brings together expert perspectives on how different cultures, time periods, and artistic mediums reimagined this complex biblical figure, offering fresh insights into the religious, cultural, and artistic significance of Mary Magdalene during the medieval era. Essential reading for scholars of medieval studies, theology, art history, and literature seeking to understand how one of Christianity's most reinterpreted saints embodied multiple, sometimes contradictory, roles across centuries.