The Cult of Saint Katherine of Alexandria in Late-Medieval Nu... - 9781409420712

Taylor & Francis

Saint Katherine of Alexandria was - after the Virgin Mary - arguably the most important female religious figure within medieval Europe. Despite this, many gaps in our knowledge remain as regards the significance and function of her cult within Germany. Simon's book addresses this lacunae, using Nuremberg as a case study to examine the ways in which the cult expressed itself - in literature, art; devotional practice, Patrician patronage, political strategy, urban space - and how the various forms of expression interacted to shape Patrician and civic identity. > Katherine of Alexandria was a major object of devotion within medieval Europe, ranking second only to the Virgin Mary in the canon of female saints. Yet despite her undoubted importance, relatively little is known about the significance and function of her cult within the German-speaking territories that stood at the heart of Europe. Anne Simon's study adds a welcome new interdisciplinary perspective to the study of Saint K.