Couverture / Jaquette

Jean Markale shows that the roots of the ritual of courtly love re-created here go all the way back to the great mother goddess. In addition, the platonic nature attributed to these relationships is based on a misunderstanding of courtly love; underneath the refined poetry of the troubadours' verses flourished a system of sexual initiation that rivaled Indian Tantra.

Note biographique

Jean Markale (1928-2008), was a poet, philosopher, historian, and storyteller, who spent a lifetime researching pre-Christian and medieval culture and spirituality. He was a former specialist in Celtic studies at the Sorbonne and author of more than 40 books, including The Druids, The Grail, The Great Goddess, The Celts, Merlin, Women of the Celts, The Epics of Celtic Ireland, and King of the Celts.

Table des matières

Courtly Love
The Path of Sexual Initiation
Introduction The Game of Love and Knightly Prowess
1. The Laws of Love
2. Love in Question
3. Ambiguous Liturgies
Notes
Selected Bibliography
Index

Détails