Mary Magdalene : a biography / Bruce Chilton.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 163-201) and index.

Marguerite -- Possessed -- The Magdalene -- Secret exorcism -- Mary's signature -- Nameless anointer -- "Thy name is as oil poured forth" -- Transfiguration at the tomb -- Ecstatic vision -- The scar -- Expurgating the Magdalene -- Orthodox ambivalence and the gnostic quest -- The breakout -- The goddess and the vixen -- Relics of the Magdalene.

Bard professor of religion Chilton adds another volume to the already groaning shelves of books on the enigmatic woman. As Chilton admits, the gospels contain very little explicit information about her, but he uses what fragments are there to reconstruct her life and world. Mary's hometown, Magdala, was a wealthy Roman outpost, but contrary to legend, there is no indication that she was affluent. In fact, as Chilton points out, she came to Jesus in the garb of the poor; she was likely demon-possessed, and she was an outcast from her community. Drawing from the gospels (especially Luke 8), Gnostic writings and later Christian legends, Chilton shows the ways in which the Christian traditions have maligned Mary. Far from being simply the prostitute of legend, Chilton argues, Mary of Magdala offers us the spiritual gifts of dissolving evil (exorcism), providing unguents for sickness and sin (anointing) and understanding the truth of Resurrection (vision). Chilton offers a satisfactory survey of attitudes toward Mary from the Middle Ages to today.