Between 566 and 1095 Byzantine life flourished in Constantinople, where society was, as never before, ornate and ceremonious, and where ladies were powdered and scented, jeweled and coiffured.

In the empirical palace fires were kept burning all year long to brew the perfumes required to deodorize queens and princesses (Durant, 1950).

In Europe, chaos and calamity were the order of the day and increasing gloom spread over the spiritual direction of women, while the Church was consistently challenged by heretical groups such as the Waldensians and Cathers.

These sects were ultimately destroyed, but not before many women and girls had gone willingly to their deaths believing that their souls had been set free. (Heir, 1961).

Take Chaucer’s Madame Eglantine, whose father, not wanting the ex

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