Fabian Sieber: Biblical Allusions and Hagiographical Attributions – On the Relation between Rahab of Jericho and Mary of Egypt

Mary of Egypt is one of the lesser well-known saints of Christian tradition. Throughout the centuries however she was widely remembered as a repentant prostitute and a holy sinner. While her cult spread throughout the Christian world, her vita, originally written in Greek, got translated and is preserved today in several hundred manuscript editions. At the same moment however, hard facts to relate her vita to, are scarce, and while the discussion of preliminary questions is still open, it is generally acknowledged the literary qualities of the text are dominant.
In my presentation I would like to contribute to the discussion of the literary character of the text by analyzing biblical allusions present in the plot, namely by reconstructing the typological relevance of Rahab (Jos 2) as an archetype for the figure of Mary of Egypt. Indeed the dependencies between both figures are frequent. When for example Rahab is said to have hidden the spies of Israel under stalks of flax (Jos 2 : 6) it is Mary of Egypt that is said to have spun flax as a source of income. By thus Mary of Egypt gains a specific relevance, for her life appears to be justified by biblical significance.
In my argument, the linkage between biblical testimony and hagiographical manifestation hints to the relevance of biblical faith in the cult of saints. In consequence the literary character of the story of Mary of Egypt appears to be less a problem, then an intended quality.