ST GEORGE: HERO, MARTYR and MYTH. Samantha Riches (Paperback) 2005

ST GEORGE: HERO, MARTYR and Myth. Samantha Riches.

Who was St George and how did he become patron saint not only of England but also of many other European countries? In this richly illustrated book, Samantha Riches explores the extraordinary wealth of myths and legends, art and inspiration that has grown up around an obscure fourth-century Christian martyr. The visual arts of medieval and renaissance Europe bear eloquent testimony to the range of significant cultural roles of St. George. As both hero and martyr he was venerated not only as a symbol of chivalry but also as an emblem of both chastity and fertility; he also functioned as a signifier of the power of the urban elite.

Using historical, art historical and literary evidence, Samantha Riches creates a vivid and compelling narrative, paying close attention to the symbolism of the saint's combat with the dragon and its development as the most significant aspect of his legend and cult The complex medieval psychology revealed by her study of this motif reveals some astonishing results, not least the implications of the discovery of a number of representations of female dragons. The book ends with a study of the post-medieval cult of St. George and a consideration of the use of his image in British culture in both patriotic and jingoistic contexts.

A paperback published in 2005 by Sutton Publishing