Breastfeeding Factoids
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DID YOU KNOW THAT: Probably the most often depicted breastfeeding-mother is the Virgin Mary breastfeeding baby Jesus. In fact, the oldest known image of the Virgin Mary is found in the Catacomb of Priscilla in Rome. In this wall painting, Mary is breastfeeding baby Jesus.
DID YOU KNOW THAT: In addition to breastfeeding baby Jesus, the Virgin Mary has been depicted in other paintings where she is squirting milk out of her breasts. In this painting, Saint Bernard prays to the Virgin Mary and asks her to “Show that you are a mother” (Monstra te esse matrem) at which point, the statue comes alive and squirts milk into Saint Bernard’s mouth. This painting is sometimes called the "Miracle of Lactation."
DID YOU KNOW THAT: These images shows the Virgin Mary squirting breast milk to the souls in purgatory. The souls who receive her milk are cleansed and ascend to heaven. The painting, by Pedro Machua, is called "La Virgen dando su leche a las almas del purgatorio."
DID YOU KNOW THAT: There is a cloud formation called Mammatus and it looks like breasts hanging down from the sky. The word mammatus comes from the Latin word "mamma", which means "breast". If you see mammatus clouds in the sky, it usually means that there is a big storm coming.
DID YOU KNOW THAT: The word “galaxy” comes from the Greek word “gala” which means “milk”. In Greek mythology, the Milky Way was created when a spray of milk came out of Hera’s breast (wife of Zeus) as she was breastfeeding Hercules (one of Zeus’ many illegitimate sons). This 16th century painting by Jacopo Tintoretto shows Zeus bringing Hercules to Hera’s breast.
DID YOU KNOW THAT: During ancient Roman times, it is said that a daughter (Pero) secretly breastfed her elderly father (Cimon) while he was in jail. He was imprisoned and sentenced to die by starvation but Pero's breast milk sustained him. Later, Cimon was released because of Pero's unconditional love & devotion towards her father. This act of "Roman Charity" has been represented in 16th and 17th century paintings, sculptures, and engravings.