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+--- Thread: Q13 Nymph "heart" = Womb? (/thread-5159.html)
Q13 Nymph "heart" = Womb? - Bluetoes101 - 20-12-2025
A while ago I was looking at how people around the time of the VMS drew
.The answer seemed to be "upside down and without the dimple", so it looks like a pear. There have been a few misidentifications apparently..
So, I was left wondering if this is just some random shape and left it at that.
I was just doing Summer Mainstone-Cotton's online exhibition on "childbirth within the medieval world" - You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (It's very good. Would recommend!) when I noted the shape of the "womb" in a diagram.
Some info from the exhibition and comparisons below. The swaddled baby look of the right nymph combined with the womb shape drawn has me wondering if there is a possible connection.. What do you think?
"There are only three known illustrative examples of the female reproductive system that circulated through medieval medical manuscripts. One of the examples, an abstract diagram of the female genitalia, forms part of an anatomical diagram series known as Galen’s nine systems of the body. Galen's nine systems are the earliest surviving set of anatomical illustrations in Western Europe, often integrated into medical manuscripts to be consulted by physicians. The diagram found in the Curious Cures collection is one of the earliest surviving copies of this series, dating from around 1200."
(There are examples of this being copied later)
"The diagram depicts the female reproductive system from an outside perspective - looking into the woman's body. At the top of the diagram, there is a teardrop-shape representing the womb; it is accompanied by the annotation 'here the infant is nourished and grows' ('hic nutrit infans et crescit'). "
Bonus medieval bumph - "She is warned to avoid bitter foods ('chose ameres'), as consuming such foods may result in the child being born without nails or knees ('sans ongles et sans genoux')."
RE: Q13 Nymph "heart" = Womb? - R. Sale - 21-12-2025
Here are some hearts. They seem to be "heart-shaped". BL Harley 4431
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RE: Q13 Nymph "heart" = Womb? - Bluetoes101 - 21-12-2025
It does seem like they are - "Detail of a miniature of Venus presiding over a group of men and women, who are presenting their hearts to her, from 'L'Épître Othéa', Harley MS 4431, f. 100r."
Looking at this again "Up until the late 14th century, the heart was usually shown upside down. This tradition changed in the first half of the 15th century. Another change happened during this time, which shaped the heart symbol as we know it today." the change happened a bit sooner than I remember (first half v second half). You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
I wonder if there's anything pre-dating 1414?.. though I'm not sure a heart would make more sense in regards to the VMS image..
RE: Q13 Nymph "heart" = Womb? - ReneZ - 21-12-2025
I have a vague sense of déjà vu here, but not sure...
RE: Q13 Nymph "heart" = Womb? - Koen G - 21-12-2025
All of this is very sculptural and architectural. To me it looks more like a leaf, maybe in metal or stone.
The heart shape is created by the point that comes in from the top, not by a deliberate shaping into lobes of the yellow area.