Hildegard of Bingen was a medieval mystic or prophet and visionary. As a young girl, she had visions connected with an illness, and was sent to a monastery where she was put under the care of a noblewoman and resident there, named Jutta. It was Jutta who taught Hildegard to read and write. In time, Hildegard learned Latin, read the scriptures, and had access to many other books of religious and philosophical nature. She took the veil and made her nun’s vows at the age of 15. A convent was built next to the monastery, and Hildegard became the abbess. She then founded a convent at Bingen.
Hildegard produced major works of theology and visionary writings – the Scivias. She was also believed to have been the illustrator of the Scivias, and therefore, one of the few identifiable women artists of the Middle Ages. She was famous for writing sacred music and writing about natural history and medicine. She was so well respected that she was consulted by, and advised bishops, popes, and kings. These accomplishments gave Hildegard of Bergen the name of the ‘Sibyl of the Rhine’.
