Interpreting cultural symbols

de Kathleen M. Ashley, Pamela Sheingorn

This richly illustrated collection of essays is the first interpretive study of Saint Anne--the apocryphal mother of the Virgin--in late medieval culture. This book examines the myriad images of Saint Anne from a variety of sources including folklore, drama, ritual, the visual arts, local and political history, hagiographic narrative, and theology. As a symbol of immense authority, Saint Anne provides valuable access to this historically specific culture.