Why did courtly love arise in the Age of Faith?
Kay Stoner in her paper on “The Enduring Popularity of Courtly Love” maintains that this was the re-emergence of the millenia-old ideals toward the age old goddess Artemis or Diana now directed by the Church toward the Virgin Mary. On the other hand, now that the knights conscious focus was on Mary, a more likely explanation as follows: “Historically, chivalry began with knights in the middle ages, and was the belief and practice of men who had been influenced and transformed by Christianity. They held dearly ideals such as courtesy, loyalty, protection, gentleness and honor to all, including enemies. A knight sought love and glory, but not selfish love and glory – love and glory for his lady and king first. Since knights devoted themselves to the Virgin Mary, this is probably where their worshipful attitudes toward women originated. Women were literally treated as queens by chivalric men. Knights were respectful, worshipful, and reverent toward women. A knight s love for a lady was kn
