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EN
Anonymous
Nun pointing to her vulva, Saint-Radegonde Abbey Church
Approx. 13th century
Pointiers, France

10-26-Vulva weisende Nonne Saint Radegonde

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In contrast to the before mentioned figures which are pointing to the vulva, the face of this female figure is very human. While the hair is partly visible, the rest is hidden behind a veil. The garment is draped on the side of the body, the legs are bent and the toes are visible. Invitingly, the nun presents her abundant breasts and her sexual organ; she pulls apart the pudental cleft with her fingers. The vulva is oval and inside of it the clitoris is recognizable. This makes it one of the most detailed representations of the female organ in the Middle Ages.
In this case a new meaning has to be assumed since this figure differs a lot from the others. One possible symbolization is the danger represented by a woman. In Christian literature the following can be found: "Woman is the gateway to the devil, the path to evil, the bite of the serpent, shortly a dangerous object"[1]. In this way, the figure can be interpreted as a warning in order not to live in a vicious, that is, libidinal way and follow Christian virtues.

(Translation: C. Wilhelm)