Hildegard of Bingen

Hildegard of Bingen was a Benedictine religious leader, visionary writer, composer and natural philosopher whose influence extended far beyond the convent walls of twelfth-century Germany. Through her visionary theology, music, correspondence and writings on the natural world, she became one of the most remarkable intellectual figures of the Middle Ages. This profile examines the historical evidence for her life, authority and legacy while distinguishing the documented Hildegard from the many later interpretations that have surrounded her reputation.