A01=Barbara Freitag
Author_Barbara Freitag
Birthing Stones
british
carving
Category=NKA
Category=NKD
celebrations
Church Stretton
day
Dead Man
Early Irish Literature
Early Irish Tales
English Dialect Dictionary
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eq_isMigrated=2
eq_nobargain
Evil Eye
fertility
figures
Folk Deities
Gaelic
Good Luck Charms
Irish Language
isles
Llandrindod Wells
Naked Females
National Library
patrick's
Raglan Castle
Round Towers
Scottish Gaelic
Slip Jigs
St Patrick's Day
St Patrick's Day Celebrations
St Patricks
St Patrick’s Day
St Patrick’s Day Celebrations
stone
Young Man
Product details
- ISBN 9780415345521
- Weight: 590g
- Dimensions: 174 x 246mm
- Publication Date: 16 Sep 2004
- Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
- Publication City/Country: GB
- Product Form: Hardback
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Here Barbara Freitag examines all the literature on the subject since their discovery 160 years ago, highlighting the inconsistencies of the various interpretations in regard to origin, function and name. By considering the Sheela-na-gigs in their medieval social context, she suggests that they were folk deities with particular responsibility for assistance in childbirth.
This fascinating survey sheds new light on a controversial phenomenon, and also contains a complete catalogue of all known Sheela-na-gigs, including hitherto unrecorded or unpublished figures.
Lecturer in Intercultural Studies in the school of Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies, Dublin City University.
