Black Madonnas are medieval European images of the Virgin Mary with dark skin, often associated with miracles. The origins and meaning of these statues and icons are unknown, but theories suggest pre-Christian influences or a desire for a more maternal figure. Some were intentionally designed with dark skin, while others were discolored. The mystery surrounding Black Madonnas has led to associations with other historical mysteries.
A Black Madonna, or Black Virgin, is an image of the Virgin Mary with black or dark skin produced in medieval Europe. These do not ostensibly depict women of African descent, but rather tend to have European characteristics. Black Madonnas are usually Byzantine-style statues or icons of a seated or standing figure, and the Madonna and Child is a frequent subject.
There are approximately 450-500 medieval Black Madonnas in Europe, with at least 180 in France. Numerous copies of medieval versions also exist in Europe, and some are found in the Americas. Many Black Madonnas have been associated with miracles since the Middle Ages.
The origins of the Black Madonna are unknown. In the late 20th century, a theory arose that the coloring of the black Madonnas was due to soot accumulated from candles burning near the images. Beginning in the 1920s, scholars disputed this view, holding that the Black Madonna’s dark skin held particular significance to medieval viewers.
Although some black Madonnas are the result of discoloration, most were intentionally designed with dark skin. In some paintings and statues, the Black Madonna’s clothing remains bright, suggesting that the skin is also the original color. Statues of the Black Madonna were often carved from ebony wood. Even when discoloration created a Black Madonna, skin color was important to devotees, and some paintings that had been restored to their original light skin color were later repainted to have black skin.
Modern theories about the meaning of the Black Madonna often link the image to pre-Christian ideas and religions. Since the Madonna and Child are reminiscent of ancient Egyptian depictions of Isis and Horus, it is possible that the dark skin of black Madonnas is a reference to the image’s Egyptian origin. Dark-skinned Madonnas may also be based on other pre-Christian deity figures; some Black Madonna shrines are found on the former sites of pagan shrines dedicated to goddesses such as Diana.
It has also been theorized that black Madonnas were intended to portray a more maternal and feminine figure through the use of earthy skin tones. According to this theory, light-skinned Madonnas are more indicative of purity and chastity than eternal feminine power. Another theory holds that the Black Madonnas were intended as a historically accurate image of Mary, a Semitic woman from the Middle East.
Some historians suggest that black Madonnas were only conceptualized as such after the Middle Ages, when very light-skinned images of the Virgin became the norm. In any case, the Black Madonnas have fascinated believers and non-believers alike for centuries. Because of the mystery surrounding their origin and meaning, Black Madonnas have sometimes been associated with other historical “mysteries,” such as the Knights Templar, the Cathars, and Gnosticism.
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