Helena of Britain in medieval legend
St Helena, mother of Constantine the Great and legendary finder of the True Cross, was appropriated in the middle ages as a British saint. The rise and persistence of this legend harnessed Helena's imperial and sacred status to portray her as a romance heroine, source of national pride, and a l...
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| Format: | Electronic Book |
| Language: | English |
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| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Suffolk
Boydell & Brewer
2002.
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| In: | Year: 2002 |
| Reviews: | Helena of Britain in medieval legend. By Antonina Harbus. Pp. viii+215. Woodbridge: D. S. Brewer, 2002. £45. 0 85991 625 1 (2004) (Crick, Julia)
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| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Helena Roman Empire, Empress 248-330
/ Legend
/ History 500-1500
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| Further subjects: | B
Helena ; Saint ; approximately 255-approximately 330
B Holy Cross ; Legends B Helena, Saint *ca. 255-ca. 330* B Helen of Troy B Helen of Troy Saint (approximately 255-approximately 330) B Holy Cross Legends B Holy Cross Legends |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Parallel Edition: | Non-electronic
Print version: 9780859916257 |
| Summary: | St Helena, mother of Constantine the Great and legendary finder of the True Cross, was appropriated in the middle ages as a British saint. The rise and persistence of this legend harnessed Helena's imperial and sacred status to portray her as a romance heroine, source of national pride, and a legitimising link to imperial Rome. This study is the first to examine the origins, development, political exploitation and decline of this legend, tracing its momentum and adaptive power from Anglo-Saxon England to the twentieth century. Using Latin, English, and Welsh texts, as well as church dedications and visual arts, the author examines the positive effect of the British legend on the cult of St Helena and the reasons for its wide appeal and durability in both secular and religious contexts. Two previously unpublished 'vitae' of St Helena are included in the volume: a Middle English verse 'vita' from the 'South English Legendary', and a Latin prose 'vita' by the twelfth-century hagiographer, Jocelin of Furness. ANTONINA HARBUS is a Research Fellow in the Department of English, University of Sydney. Helena in late antiquity and the early middle ages -- The Legend in Anglo-Saxon England and Francia -- Magnus Maximus and the Welsh Helena -- Popularisation in the Anglo-Latin histories and the English brut tradition -- Late medieval saints' legendaries -- The legend beyond the middle ages |
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| Item Description: | Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 02 Oct 2015) |
| ISBN: | 184615006X |