Rethinking medieval and modern sexualities through the ‘harlot saint’ Thais (THAISIS)

THAISIS is a groundbreaking project interweaving literary analysis, history, and codicology to map out the influence of the story of Thais, one of a number of early Christian holy women said to have converted from a life of prostitution. This dramatic saint's life was told and retold across the medieval world, underwent a modern revival in the late nineteenth century, and continues to resonate in unexpected places today, but its full scope has yet to be studied.

The narrative is not a comfortable one. Thais, a famous and wealthy sex worker, is confronted by a desert monk determined to convert her. In terror for her soul, she gives up control of her life to him, burns her possessions, and is walled up in a tiny cell, left in her own excrement, for three years. On her release, she lives only fifteen days. This is a story with deep roots in ancient misogyny, which concentrates the medieval Christian struggle over the proper relationship of sex, money, and spirituality into a shocking parable which retained its hold for centuries. THAISIS will map out its development and role in medieval culture, and examine postmedieval responses to its stark portrayal of a female convert, asking what responsible and productive use of this figure might look like in modern engagement with the past, whether scholarly or otherwise.

Thais's story has been told in many ways over the centuries, from opera to film to puppet theatre. This project aims both to engage new audiences with this difficult but fascinating narrative in these different forms, and to critically reflect on this reception history. Watch this space for upcoming events and reflections on ongoing research.