Believing in blood

: menstruation, menopause, and Jewish-Christian relations in medieval religious texts

Abstract

This thesis investigates the significance of menstruation, menopause, and motherhood within the context of Jewish-Christian relations in medieval religious texts. By examining the menstrual cycles of key biblical female figures – such as Eve, Mary, Sarah, Rachel, Judith, and the female personifications of Judaism and Christianity – this thesis undertakes a comparative analysis of biblical commentaries, Bible translations, religious narratives, and polemical writings. These texts, spanning Jewish and Christian sources from French-, German-, and Spanish-speaking regions between the eleventh and fifteenth centuries, demonstrate how both religions used menstruation to shape religious identity and reinforce perceptions of self and other. By focusing on shared biblical characters, my comparative examination seeks to understand how these menstrual cycles were treated, perceived, and discussed respectively in the two religions, highlighting parallels and differences between their mentalities and methodologies. This research contests prevailing interpretations that view menstruation negatively in medieval religious discourse and challenges the notion that Jews were solely victims in Judeo-Christian interactions. Instead, it illustrates that Jews actively engaged in cultural and theological dialogue with Christians, reflecting a nuanced relationship that both incorporated and rejected elements from each other's cultures and religious practices. Ultimately, these texts emerge as overlooked resources for exploring medieval perceptions of the menstrual cycle, contributing to a deeper understanding of the history of menstruation and of Jewish-Christian relations. This thesis emphasises menstruation’s significance as a force for creation rather than pollution.

Date of Award	1 Jul 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of St Andrews
Supervisor	Victoria Turner (Supervisor) & Bettina Bildhauer (Supervisor)