"Hag of the castle" : women, family, and community in later medieval Ireland

The presence of "Sheelas," sculptures of naked and exposed women, in medieval Irish and English churches from the 12th century has confused art and religious scholars. They appear to have been introduced during this century and resemble architectural ornament found in other European Romanesque churches. Scholarship has attempted to force an understanding of how these sculptures fit into Christian architectural history, often referencing them as examples of the risks of female temptations. However, this essay asserts that it seems most likely that they were repurposed from dissolved castles to retain art history.