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Product Description
Sexually explicit sculptures may be found on a number of medieval churches in France and Spain. This fascinating study examines the origins and purposes of these sculptures, viewing them not as magical fertility symbols, nor even as idols of ancient pre-Christian religions, but as serious works that dealt with the sexual customs and salvation of medieval folk, and thus gave support to the Church's moral teachings.
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Many names have been given at various times and in different places to the indecent carvings which first came into prominent public discussion among antiquaries in nineteenth-century Ireland. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Many names have been given at various times and in different places to the indecent carvings which first came into prominent public discussion among antiquaries in nineteenth-century Ireland. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It was the subtitle of this book, 'Sexual Carvings on Medieval Churches', that made me buy it. I never knew there were sexualy explicit carvings on any churches. The book delves into the subject with some surprising results. A dazzling array of perverse and bizare carvings are uncovered but the writing style is very academic and a little unaccesible. All the photographs are black and white, whilst some carvings are represented by poorly drawn sketches. Another let down is some of the authors speculation which borders on guese work. However, it's still a fascinating subject with plenty of surprises but not a triumph of writing.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Insighteful book and a must-have if you're a history buff
10 Feb 2008
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having seen numerous medieval churches in France, it struck me that their purposes were not the same as those used by today's churches. Many (most? all?) were built like defensive forts and their halls seem too big to house Sunday meetings of the surrounding population.
Without going into what I've been discovering (for simplicity's sake, you can Google "medieval church" for references), this picture book definitely does add to understanding, or else, leads to more questions (which, when you are interested in history, are fun).
The title is like, way brilliant. It is far more titillating than the book, for sure. What you'll be seeing are pictures of ancient church facades that feature exaggerated male and female gentalia.
The historians involved in this research have not been able to draw conclusions about the imagery. Were they warnings, enticements, or good luck/fertility symbols? Obviously, people regarded their bodies differently in the distant past, especially when you consider that nudity was often the norm when environmental protection wasn't needed. Note that soldiers often went into battle pant-less and erect penises are used as symbols for guideposts and warnings throughout Europe and Mediterranean countries, if not beyond.
Anyway, buy the book and try not to be embarrassed when visitors see it on your coffee table . . . better yet, flop it on your office desk and see if anyone nails you for what is, essentially, our historical past.
Without going into what I've been discovering (for simplicity's sake, you can Google "medieval church" for references), this picture book definitely does add to understanding, or else, leads to more questions (which, when you are interested in history, are fun).
The title is like, way brilliant. It is far more titillating than the book, for sure. What you'll be seeing are pictures of ancient church facades that feature exaggerated male and female gentalia.
The historians involved in this research have not been able to draw conclusions about the imagery. Were they warnings, enticements, or good luck/fertility symbols? Obviously, people regarded their bodies differently in the distant past, especially when you consider that nudity was often the norm when environmental protection wasn't needed. Note that soldiers often went into battle pant-less and erect penises are used as symbols for guideposts and warnings throughout Europe and Mediterranean countries, if not beyond.
Anyway, buy the book and try not to be embarrassed when visitors see it on your coffee table . . . better yet, flop it on your office desk and see if anyone nails you for what is, essentially, our historical past.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
images of lust
12 Oct 2005
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
for real lovers of medieval carvings this is a must. divided into useful sections this is a fairly comprehensive account of the history, and possible reasons for these carvings, an i certainly learnt new information, although a student of these early carvings. if you love and know something about medieval carvings this book will round out your knowledge.
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