Quotes · Quote card
Quotation from St. Dymphna and the Geel Colony by Pierre of Cambrai; Geel tradition
“This narrative is without any historical foundation, being merely a variation of the story of the king who wanted to marry his own daughter, a motif which appears frequently in popular legends”
St. Dymphna and the Geel Colony, Catholic Encyclopedia, St. Dymphna, trans. Public-domain English article (1909)
The article's warning supplies the critical guardrail for using the legend responsibly.
Citation: "This narrative is without any historical foundation, being merely a variation of the story of the king who wanted to marry his own daughter, a motif which appears frequently in popular legends" — Pierre of Cambrai; Geel tradition, St. Dymphna and the Geel Colony, Catholic Encyclopedia, St. Dymphna, trans. Public-domain English article (1909). (id st-dymphna-and-geel-q2)
Portrait: The beheading of Saint Dymphna, Godfried Maes, Public domain.
