The legend of Dona Marinha: mythology and genealogy

Authors

  • F. Delpech CNRS - Paris

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/ceg.2008.v55.i121.50

Abstract


The medieval legend of Dona Marinha is an account of the origins of the galician family of the Marinhos. It tells of the rape of a mysterious and mute seamaid by a knight, and of her gradual integration into human society.
This tale belongs to the subgroup of genealogical traditions based on mythical backgrounds,which were in use in the peninsular culture at the end of the Middle Ages. It differs however from the melusinian type, with which it only has some slight analogies.
In this legend is experimentally tested an imaginary model of resolution of the conflictive duality which opposes Nature and Culture, exogamy and assimilation, masculine predominance and matrilineal trends. This model is embodied by a type of marriage in which the mediation of filiation conveys a softening and, at last, an elimination of the inconveniences of hyper-exogamy.

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Published

2008-12-30

How to Cite

Delpech, F. (2008). The legend of Dona Marinha: mythology and genealogy. Cuadernos De Estudios Gallegos, 55(121), 407–426. https://doi.org/10.3989/ceg.2008.v55.i121.50

Issue

Section

Heraldic and Genealogy