Mary Magdalene?

Question

Just curious, what's her story, who exactly is she (or who do you believe she is)? AND what did she look like?

I thought it was very interesting that Ariel from the little mermaid represents her.

Answer 1

Sylvia Browne said that she was married to Jesus and that they had children. As far as the little mermaid character, I still don't know who came up with that.

Answer 2

According to the traditional modern version of the Bible she was a sinner who became a follower of Christ, and she was the first person Jesus chose to continue his ministry. She witnessed the crucifixion and was the first one to see him after the resurrection (according to the gospel of St. John she was THE witness of Jesus’ resurrection). The Gnostic gospels give a somewhat different picture – implying that she was a “companion” of Jesus, which may mean that she was his wife and she was often seen kissing him on the lips, which pissed off some of the other disciples cuz they thought Jesus favored her over them. I think there are hints of this tension is the traditional Bible as well, but I can’t quote verses at the moment. There are zillions of artistic renderings of her. (I have a book about her, which has several dozen photos of paintings and sculptures depicting her) but I don’t think that any of the artists knew what she actually looked like (just like we don’t know what Jesus really looked like).

By the way, most of what Dan Brown talks about in The Da Vinci Code is stuff that historians and conspiracy lovers have been aware of for centuries. It involves a lot of speculation and draws information for sources that were not included in the Bible as we know it today, but Brown didn’t just make this stuff up out of thin air. He is basing the book on historical ideas that are centuries old. And by the way, feminist scholars have been talking about the role of Mary Magdalene for a couple of decades, so some of the mythology in The Da Vinci Code will be familiar to people who have read feminist philosophical work.

Another tidbit:
I mentioned that these debates have been going on for centuries. Here is one example. Back in 1532, John Schlagenhaufen (one of Martin Luther's close friends) wrote about a dinner conversation in which Luther (who was probably drunk at the time) suggests that Jesus committed adultery with Mary. There is not much evidence that Martin Luther actually believed that Jesus had sex with Mary, but my point is that these debates and ideas are centuries old.

Answer 3

Mary Magdalene is described as a close friend and follower of Jesus. She is depicted as having Red Hair, and was the first person to see Jesus after he rose from the crypt. The Madeleine Church in Paris was named in her honor. She is described as a prostitute, but others have said she came from a family of nobility. I believe that she is depicted on the front of the Cathedral of Notre Dame as a woman holding a chalice, next to the Virgin's Portal, the left side entrance to the church.

Answer 4

she was not a prostitute and for those stating that it is referenced that way in the bible need to go look it up again. Mary was a women with some troubles who turned to Jesus for help and what came of that no one really knows. I believe she had a bigger part in history then any of us know about, but let's just say she was a good friend to Jesus.

Answer 5

She was not a prostitute...
you could read this book...Da Vinci Code.

forget the controversy surrounding the book, its an incredible work and worth reading...

Its all about Mary Magdalene.

Dont watch the movie, read the book...

Answer 6

First of all, Mary Magdalene has nothing to do with Philosophy. She is under the catagory of Religion.

Answer 7

She was a prostitute who loved Jesus. He stood up for her. I don't know what she looked like.

Answer 8

wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Magdalene look here