Fovea Peccati et Utero Ecclesiae: The Symbiotic Nature of Female Sexuality on Medieval Baptismal Fonts

Abstract

In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries the medieval fonts of Europe were often envisioned as living entities, personified as female, symbolizing the symbiotic relationship between the Old Testament figure of Eve, who was understood to have caused mankind's downfall and the New Testament personification of Ecclesia, who offered salvation through the Church. This theological understanding formed the basis of a unique corpus of sexual images that were used to ornament baptismal fonts in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Not before nor after, will the pedagogical use of female sexuality and body parts, such as the vagina and womb, emerge as a viable, pictorial art form in the history of font making. Medieval theologians, drawing on the writings of the early Christian Fathers, created a complex set of relationships, which equated the female vagina (fovea) with notions of Hell and the Old Testament pits of sin. In turn, this resulted in bizarre images of female figures such as Sheela-na-gigs, Luxuria and other promiscuous women on fonts to illustrate the differences between what constituted mortal vices versus spiritual salvation. In this article the author unravels the theological foundations which gave rise to the portrayal of illicit women and sexuality on baptismal fonts.