Abstract

QUIROGA, Laura Cecilia. From Conception to Birth. Motherhood in the Cantigas de Santa María. Temas Mediev. [online]. 2005, vol.13, pp.173-184. ISSN 0327-5094.

The article analyzes the idea of motherhood as it appears in the Cantigas de Santa María devoting special attention to the period between conception and birth of the children. The study directs its attention to three notions that appear repeatedly in the Cantigas, namely those of sterility, birth and unwanted motherhood. Through these we can verify the importance of offspring not only for women - whose duty it is to assume their supposed social role and to act in accordance -, as well as for the couple and community.

Keywords : Motherhood; conception; birth; Cantigas de Santa María.