SETE VIDAS E MUITAS FACES: A IMAGEM DO GATO NA IDADE MÉDIA
SETE VIDAS E MUITAS FACES: A IMAGEM DO GATO NA IDADE MÉDIA
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.3882423103
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Palavras-chave: Imagem; Gato; Idade Média; Imaginário
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Keywords: Image; Cat; Middle Age; Imaginary
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Abstract: The Middle Age cats are like that period itself: some demonize, some romanticize. Agents of the devil or witches fellows? Yes, some images and reports from that time represent these. Even the Church had pronounced on their diabolical character, symbol of sins and partner in sabbats and witchcraft. The bad reputation has spread througout Europe such as dry grass, as well as exaggerations. However, images of cats are not only about demons and sins. There are also cats on lap of saints, as St. Gertrudes of Nivelles' (Belgium, 7th century) and, naturally, St. Francis of Assis' (Italy, 12-13th centuries). This essay introduce a general perspective of representations of cats in Middle Age, inside of the imaginary, but it focus on positive reports, since the negative ones are quite known, and pin to description of three medieval images which consttrue that imaginary. To do this, it use bibliographic sources in an attempt to expand references on the topic. The three images were selected in order to contemplate an image linked to the sacred, one from some everyday record, and another that associates the cat with evil, regardless of whether it is profane or not. Other images serve to illustrate the information collected in the research.
- José de Arimathéia Cordeiro Custódio