'Chest-thumping machismo': The Bayeux Tapestry reveals the bloody, bawdy truth about the Middle Ages

Key Points:

• The Bayeux Tapestry, an 11th-century embroidered masterpiece depicting the Norman conquest of England, is returning to the UK for exhibition at the British Museum from September 2024 to July 2027.
• The tapestry emphasizes male dominance and political machismo, using imagery such as prominently displayed penises—mostly on horses—as symbols of virility and power in a male-centered medieval society.
• Women play minor but symbolically significant roles, often appearing at moments of emotional or political transition, while the tapestry’s borders include more subversive and coded depictions that may critique the central male figures.
• The artwork was likely commissioned by Norman elites, including Bishop Odo of Bayeux, and reflects the homosocial, male-driven worldview of its patrons, with female embroiderers possibly adding subtle, creative commentary in the margins.
• A Victorian-era replica toned down the tapestry’s explicit machismo, illustrating changing attitudes toward nudity and gender representation over time, while the original highlights the essential yet often overlooked contributions of women in its creation.