A visionary woman

[sarahmichigan]

A while back, and LJ friend asked for lists of interesting people to read up on. I was trying to think of this medieval nun I wrote a paper on for a history of philosophy course, and her name eluded me for days. It finally popped up in a dream last night: Hildegard von Bingen.

She was a German abbess who also happened to be an artist, author, linguist, naturalist, scientist, philosopher, physician, herbalist, poet, visionary, and composer to boot. It's amazing what one woman could do in one brief lifetime, during a time when women's status wasn't exactly exalted.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_scarlet_ibis_/]

That was me! Thanks! *click*

[custardfairy.livejournal.com]

She's discussed in this book that I recently finished (http://www.amazon.com/Women-at-Work-Medieval-Europe/dp/0816045666/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1213360243&sr=1-1), along with other very cool medieval women. Excellent book.