A Tree Full Of Penises

[poliphilo]

I had to share this.

http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=7010695

amritarosa put me onto it.

This medieval mural in the Italian city of Massa Marittima shows a bunch of women standing under a tree full of penises. According to a British academic, it illustrates a passage from the Malleus Maleficarum and is the earliest representation of witches in European art.

The Reuters article gives a full explanation.

Comments

[cataptromancer.livejournal.com]

I cite the Montague Summers trans. of that passage in this old post:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/cataptromancer/2003/11/05/

[cataptromancer.livejournal.com]

Also, I think the penis-tree is a pretty common med/early-mod european folk story. That new-ish Medieval Folklore book charts it (I can give a better reference once I get home, and if anyone cares).

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I care. I'd love to have the reference.

[cataptromancer.livejournal.com]

Okeydokey - I'll get it for you when I'm back at my apartment (still on holiday sojourn right now)...

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

What a charming joke.

And the old fools took it as an authentic piece of witchcraft lore. Hah!