The Cult of the Black Virgin

by Ean Begg

Book Overview

There are many icons of Mary that show black faces and hands. In France, these are called Vierge Noires--Black Virgins. Elsewhere, may be called Black Madonnas or the "other Mary." Jung called her... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140195106
• ISBN13: 9780140195101
• Release Date: December 1997
• Publisher: Penguin Group USA Inc.
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.1" x 7.7"

Customer Reviews

Fascinating but tough reading

If you are fascinated with the goings-on of early Christianity and have been following the growing litany of books - both semi-serious (Holy Blood, Holy Grail) or fanciful (Da Vinci Code) - this book belongs on your reading list. Make no mistake about this work. It is a serious treatise, with a focus on the historical sources of the cult of the Black Virgin. The author notes that many of the more than 500 images of the Black Virgin found in Western Europe in general and France in particular were created around the time of the Crusades (1100-1300). He draws some interesting parallels between Catharism, the Knights Templar, and the quest for the holy grail. He also discusses the Mergovingian dynasty and even the Abbe Sauniere (who is featured so prominently in current fiction). But the general thrust and importance of this work is to identify the locations and possible origins of the Black Virgin icons. Begg's writing is dense, dispassionate, and frankly tough going in many spots. His gazeteer and maps are of great importance for those interested in this aspect of religious history, whether or not you're a believer.

Europe's Hidden Black Madonna Tradition

Christian Europe's ancient artistic interpretations of the Mother of God and the infant Son of God as dark fleshed is vastly too little known. Fortunately, despite the countless loss of such images through the natural ravages of time, church fires, numerous religious wars, revolutions, and also intentional discolorings passed off as "restoration," there are still quite enough of these paintings and statues left to discern that Europe's devotion to a Mary fashioned as a black woman is as ancient as it was widespread. From Spain to Sicily, hundreds of these sacred tools of worship can still be found quietly preserved in churches, shrines, museums and in numerous private collections. In the interest of preserving as much knowledge as possible regarding mankind's most ancient representation of the Deity, Ean Begg has created a priceless volume which dutifully fulfills a most necessary purpose.

All you need to know

The book is very detailed and most informative when it comes to the black madonna cult. It deals with almost everything, if not all, of the ancient goddesses, and some of the gods - from Egypt to Greece. I also got very eerie when I was reading about some of these Goddesses activities. I liked very much the summary on the relevance and relationship of The Templars, Cathars to the Black Goddesses cult! The author also touches the crux of Gnosticism and shows how it relates to the above three Orders. Its conclusion regarding why the statues of the virgin are black, is not that explicit, but during the whole text the author does inform the reader of all the reasons as to its blackness, and indeed you will draw your conclusions! All in all, a very good book on the subject. Get it!