Spiritual Mother-Queen of the Middle Ages.

Many Black Madonnas are though to depict Mary Magdalene with her child, Saint Sarah. Her dark image appears across Europe and is passionately venerated in hundreds of locales.

Actually, these ancient Ladies are the enduring face of the Great Dark Mother Goddess, some dating from Neolithic times. Often their shrines are associated with caves, wells or mountains, and her unvaryingly dark or black skin represents her under-earth or fallow winter aspect.
 
Her shrine at Montserrat, near Barcelona, is very ancient. Rich garments underscore her role as spiritual Mother-Queen of the Middle Ages.
 
[888 C.E.]
9 1/4" gypsumstone statue, handpainted with gold robes and throne.