to
Peterhouse, Cambridge
A musical counterpart to the Tuesday workshop.
Seating is limited so please enquire in advance for venue detail and to reserve a place.
St Agatha—detail from a stained glass window at Rouen Cathedral. Photograph courtesy of Chumpih (2022) in Wikimedia commons (CC BY SA 4.0).
About
St Agatha, the third-century martyr of Catania, has long functioned as a paradigmatic figure of virgin martyrdom, her sanctity grounded in the refusal of unwanted sexual advances and the preference for death over bodily violation. Over time, Agatha has become emblematic of a broader constellation of virgin martyrs across Christian, Jewish, and Muslim traditions, figures whose holiness is secured through the preservation of sexual honor and whose deaths are framed as acts of moral triumph rather than coercive violence.
These figures ensure that the valorization of female martyrdom predicated on sexual purity continues to exert profound cultural force. The ethical and symbolic elevation of chastity has contributed to enduring regimes of gendered control, disproportionately locking women of childbearing age to bear the burden of honor, often with fatal consequences. Consequentially, the idealization of the virgin martyr subtly vilifies women with drives and desires, be they physical, professional or intellectual. Contemporary patterns of honor-based violence, domestic abuse, and gendered coercion demand critical scrutiny of the historical narratives that legitimize such structures.
As part of the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of women’s admission to Peterhouse, this limited-capacity concert concludes a mini-programme with scholars from across the humanities. These events examine how narratives of virgin martyrdom have been constructed, transmitted, and reactivated across time.
Practicalities
Capacity is limited. Please contact Dr Vanessa Paloma Elbaz for venue details and to request a place.
See also the study day on Tuesday 3 February.
Contact
Dr Vanessa Paloma Elbaz