ST. MARTHA & the TARASQUE

SOME FOLKS SAY that this tale is about the same woman who was visited by Jesus in her home near Jerusalem, the sister of Lazarus. Other accounts place this story several centuries later, featuring a young local maiden whose only association with the biblical woman was to share the same name. Either way, this legend is rooted in the southern coast of France, near the Mediterranean Sea.

As the story begins, the King of Nerluc presided over a countryside being terrorized by a dragon called the Tarasque. This infamous creature was described as having six short legs, teeth as sharp as swords and a scaly tail. The King sent his bravest knights to attack the beast, yet none could prevail against this hideous monster.

Enter Martha. It is said that she first encountered the Tarasque while it was still in the process of eating a man. She threw holy water on the dragon and held up a cross, charming the beast with hymns and prayers. According to the legend, the vicious monster was instantly rendered docile and submissive as Martha tied her belt around its neck and led the creature back to the villagers. The townsfolk were frightened by the sight of the approaching monster and killed it, although the dragon is said to have offered no resistance. Saint Martha preached her message of Christianity to the people of the village, who were so moved by her message and her conquering their adversary that they renamed their village Tarascon.

Martha stayed in Tarascon, living a life of Christian piety and prayerful devotion, and was buried there. Her crypt lies in the Eglise Collégiale Ste Marthe ("St. Martha's Collegiate Church"), a local destination for tourists and pilgrims. The town holds an annual festival every June commemorating St. Martha's victory over the Tarasque.

This story of St. Martha is one of many popular tales included in the Golden Legend which was published around A.D.1260 and was something of a medieval bestseller. The storyline, the otherwise-unconquerable evil beast subdued by a woman, is a familiar plot from the ancient Mesopotamian stories of Enkidu to the modern tale of King Kong.

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