Legendary Heroes of History & Myth: Mary Magdalene
For the seventh card in my Legendary Heroes of History & Myth series, I'm taking a look at one of the most well-known and, in many ways, misunderstood women in history: Mary Magdalene.
Her story has been told, interpreted, and sometimes distorted for nearly two thousand years. But when you go back to the earliest Christian accounts, an incredibly important figure begins to emerge.
Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus's followers and is described in the Gospels as being present at some of the most important moments of his final days.
She witnessed the crucifixion when many of the other disciples had fled. According to the Gospel accounts, she was also among the first people to discover the empty tomb following Jesus's death.
Even more importantly, the Gospel of John describes Mary as the person who encountered the risen Jesus and then went to tell the disciples what she had seen.
That is an extraordinary role.
She became the messenger who carried the news of the resurrection to the other disciples, which is why she has sometimes been called "the apostle to the apostles."
For centuries, however, Mary Magdalene was often portrayed very differently. A tradition developed in Western Christianity that associated her with a repentant prostitute, even though the Bible itself never identifies her that way.
That misconception became so influential that it shaped how Mary was portrayed in art and popular culture for centuries.
Today, Mary Magdalene is increasingly recognized for what the earliest accounts actually show: a devoted follower, witness, and important figure in the early Christian story.
That's one of the reasons I wanted to include her in this series. Sometimes the most interesting stories aren't the ones we think we already know.
With this card, I wanted to capture Mary as a strong and devoted woman standing at the center of one of the most important stories in history. The light and movement in the artwork are meant to suggest both the tragedy of the crucifixion and the hope associated with the resurrection.
Whether you approach her story from a religious perspective or simply as a historical subject, Mary Magdalene is a fascinating figure who has had an enormous influence on Western history and culture.
If you'd like to take a closer look at the card, click on either image in this post. I've linked the images directly to the eBay listing.
This is #7 in the Legendary Heroes of History & Myth series.
So far we've traveled from ancient Alexandria, to the American West, Greek mythology, imperial China, ancient Egypt, Arthurian legend, and now the early Christian world.
I'm enjoying the fact that this series gives me an excuse to explore people and stories from so many different periods and cultures.
And there are plenty more to come.
— Copper State Cards