Virgin with a head of Medusa. A comment on the ideological use of fear in the Cantigas de Santa Maria

Abstract

The article maps depictions of fear in the Cantigas de Santa Maria and shows how the sponsor of this devotional songbook, the king Alfonso X of Castile, uses representations of this emotions to debase his opponents and show the power of Virgin Mary, his saintly patron and lady.

Keywords

• fear
• emotions
• representations
• Castile
• Virgin Mary
• royal ideology