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purple motes

a journal of whimsy and hope

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Gesta Romanorum

Gesta Romanorum is Latin story-collection, with each story having an application or allegorization. Some evidence suggests that a Franciscan cleric wrote it late in the thirteenth century. It was known by the early fourteenth century. It was one of the most widely known books within the European Middle Ages. Gesta Romanorum is an open work. It lacks one master version, although many stories are common across most versions.

rise of the all-powerful chess queen & Gratien Dupont’s protest

In 16th-century France, Gratien Dupont created Controverses that challenged gynocentric oppression indicated in the chess queen’s rise to dominance on the chessboard. … Read the post rise of the all-powerful chess queen & Gratien Dupont’s protest

wife caused nightingale’s death, anxious husband killed for it

Gesta Romanorum and Marie de France’s Laustic teach that men’s lack of self-confidence in love contributes to the allure of the nightingale’s song. … Read the post wife caused nightingale’s death, anxious husband killed for it

monk, naval chaplain & financial journalist review Gesta Romanorum

Charles Swan, later a British naval chaplain, and Wynnard Hooper, later Financial Editor of The Times (London), greatly shaped modern reception of Gesta Romanorum. … Read the post monk, naval chaplain & financial journalist review Gesta Romanorum

adultery punishment gender-biased against men throughout history

Gender bias against men in punishment for adultery is as clear as the vastly disproportionate imprisonment of men. So it has been for adultery through history. … Read the post adultery punishment gender-biased against men throughout history

medieval evolutionary analysis devalued men relative to women

The psychology of devaluing men’s lives doesn’t depend on failures in modern evolutionary thought. Medieval evolutionary analysis also devalued men. … Read the post medieval evolutionary analysis devalued men relative to women

woman betrays serpent, gets herself and man expelled from easy living

Within medieval Latin literature, relations among woman, serpent, and man were understood differently than in the story of Eve and Adam today. … Read the post woman betrays serpent, gets herself and man expelled from easy living

Gregorius, child of incest, married mother and became saint & pope

The medieval fictional Saint Pope Gregorius had an incestuous birth and married his mother. All failures can be overcome & everyone can be redeemed. … Read the post Gregorius, child of incest, married mother and became saint & pope

dogs and priests: the amazing power of medieval allegory

The medieval Latin story collection Gesta Romanorum redeemed scriptural disparagement of dogs and allegorized priests to dogs as a positive exemplum. … Read the post dogs and priests: the amazing power of medieval allegory

De amore & Gesta Romanorum revised Seneca’s Controversiae

De amore incorporated the sophistic form of Seneca’s Controversiae. Gesta Romanorum included Seneca’s story of a woman freeing a man from incarceration. … Read the post De amore & Gesta Romanorum revised Seneca’s Controversiae

crapping crows, laying eggs & medieval masculine difference

A masculine medieval Latin story of crapping crows became in later French literature a story of laying eggs. That’s feminizing literary development. … Read the post crapping crows, laying eggs & medieval masculine difference