For twenty centuries, Mary Magdalene has quite often been cast in an unfavorable light. Misinterpreted and falsely portrayed as a prostitute, the pivotal role she played in the New Testament events has been relegated to that of a mere supporting actress. With the media blitz surrounding Dan Brown's controversial 2003 novel, The Da Vinci Code, Mary Magdalene was prominently thrust into the spotlight… leaving scholars cause for further debate and a rethinking of how important she really was in the story of Jesus Christ, as a Christian symbol and as a threat to the Catholic Church. Produced in 2006, based on the writings of Dan Burstein, Secrets of Mary Magdalene takes a fresh look at this misunderstood woman, who has alternately been perceived as a whore, a disciple, a priestess, an intellectual, a wife, a mother and a healer. Some, but not all, of the confusion has to do with the abundance of "Marys" in the Gospels, with it being one of the more common names of the period. The discovery of the Gnostic Gospels added further confusion, with wholly different portrayals, including that in which Mary Magdalene was not only a female disciple of Jesus, but had an authority unmatched by the others. Much attention is given to the theory laid out in Holy Blood, Holy Grail in which Mary Magdalene was, in fact, the wife of Jesus. After the crucifixion, pregnant Mary traveled to France and gave birth to a daughter, Sara. It was from Sara's bloodline, that of Christ, which the first royalty of France descended. The Cathars and the Knights Templar were tasked with protecting this secret of procreation, the Holy Grail, Christ's ancestry passed through Mary's womb. Dan Brown later used this story as the basis for his fictional bestseller, The Da Vinci Code. Mary Magdalene blurred the line of human vs. divine that gave the Church such authority. All in all, this documentary is very worthwhile, providing a gentle glimpse into the history of this important female presence in the Christian faith.
Mary Magdalene and Jesus Christ: Secrets of Mary Magdalene
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown: Secrets of Mary Magdalene
: Secrets of Mary Magdalene
Christ and Mary Magdalene: Secrets of Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene: Secrets of Mary Magdalene
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown: Secrets of Mary Magdalene
The Da Vinci Code, Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou: Secrets of Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene: Secrets of Mary Magdalene
Dan Burstein: Secrets of Mary Magdalene
Leodardo Da Vinci's Last Supper: Secrets of Mary Magdalene
Dr. Deirdre Good: Secrets of Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene: Secrets of Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene: Secrets of Mary Magdalene
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown: Secrets of Mary Magdalene
-The first photo, from 1920, shows early Renaissance works on display with the large 15th Century "Saint Bartholomew" at center. Today, this area houses the Worcester Art Museum's early American collection.
-The second "Then and Now" composition shows the European Galleries before and after the last renovation of the space. Note the presence of 18th Century chairs along the wall in the 2008 image.
-The third contrast shows the third floor landing both pre and post Jeppson Idea Lab. The 2010 photo shows Thomas Crawford's "Boy Playing Marbles" when it briefly resided in a vulnerable center location.
-The last composition pairs the portrait I made of the late Terri Priest earlier this year with a print she made depicting the Hiatt Wing of the Worcester Art Museum, created shortly after that WAM addition was built in 1983.
Third Floor Galleries. Worcester Art Museum. by Travis Simpkins
European Galleries. Worcester Art Museum. by Travis Simpkins
Third Floor Galleries. Worcester Art Museum. by Travis Simpkins
Terri Priest, Travis Simpkins and the Hiatt Wing. WAM
