Apparently when Facebook banned photos of breastfeeding women, they were just following a grand old tradition. Utne reports that late medieval and Renaissance art often showed the Virgin Mary nursing the baby Jesus. Perhaps as long as nipple wasn't visible, it was okay. Oh, and the breast was supposed to represent God's love, and the milk salvation. Nowadays we are "enlightened" enough to know that the boob is porno and any milk transactions better happen under a big nursing cover, only son of God or not.
So what happened? Oh you know, by 1750 breasts were taboo, and the crucifixion scene became the more dominant symbol in art. Hey, at least you know when someone tries to sell you a holy relic--the blanket Mary used to cover Jesus when she nursed--it's probably bogus. And nice to think that we are more prudish in some ways than medieval folks.
Via the ever-wonderful Jezebel.
