ABSTRACT
Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus, appear as friends of Jesus in the New Testament. They figure both together and singly in medieval narrative, drama and moral interpretation. Early patristic and monastic allegory contrasted the two sisters – Mary representing the contemplative life and Martha the active life. Later medieval texts focused on Mary’s sinful actions and her subsequent conversion and gave Martha the legendary attribute of dragon-conqueror. The cults of both sisters flourished in Provence.
