Lady Godiva by John Collier, ca 1897

Godiva (or Godgifu) (fl. The Honourable John Maler Collier OBE RP ROI ( January 27, 1850 &ndash April 11, 1934) was a British writer and painter in 1040-1080) was an Anglo-Saxon noblewoman who, according to legend, rode naked through the streets of Coventry in England in order to gain a remission of the oppressive toll imposed by her husband on his tenants. For their language see Anglo-Saxon language. Anglo-Saxon is the term usually used to describe the invading Tribes in the south A legend ( Latin, legenda, "things to be read" is a Narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to Nudity is the state of wearing no Clothing. The term' "nudity" can also occasionally be used to refer to wearing significantly less clothing than expected Coventry ( is a city and Metropolitan borough in the County of West Midlands in England. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The name "Peeping Tom" for a voyeur comes from later versions of this legend in which a man named Tom watched her ride and was struck blind or dead. Voyeurism is the sexual interest in spying on people engaged in intimate behaviors such as undressing sexual activity or urinating

The historical figure

Lady Godiva was the wife of Leofric (968–1057), Earl of Mercia. Leofric (born 968 died 31 August or 30 September 1057) was the Earl of Mercia and founded Monasteries at Coventry and Mercia (ˈmɝsiə was one of the kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy. Her name occurs in charters and the Domesday survey, though the spelling varies. The Domesday Book (ˈduːmzdeɪ bʊk also known as Domesday, or Book of Winchester) was the record of the great survey The Old English name Godgifu or Godgyfu meant "gift of God"; Godiva was the Latinised version. Since the name was a popular one, there are contemporaries of the same name. ^[1][2]

If she is the same Godgifu who appears in the chronicles of Ely, Liber Eliensis (end of 12th century), then she was a widow when Leofric married her. Both Leofric and Godiva were generous benefactors to religious houses. In 1043 Leofric founded and endowed a Benedictine monastery at Coventry. This article concerns Roman Catholic Order of Saint Benedict see also Benedictine Confederation and Benedictine. ^[3] Writing in the 12th century, Roger of Wendover credits Godiva as the persuasive force behind this act. Roger of Wendover (died May 6, 1236) probably a native of Wendover in Buckinghamshire In the 1050s, her name is coupled with that of her husband on a grant of land to the monastery of St Mary, Worcester and the endowment of the minster at Stow St Mary, Lincolnshire. Worcester (ˈwʊstə is a city and County town of Worcestershire, in the West Midlands of England. Lincolnshire (abbreviated Lincs) is a county in the east of England. ^[4][5] She and her husband are commemorated as benefactors of other monasteries at Leominster, Chester, Much Wenlock and Evesham. Leominster ( IPA /ˈlemstə/ or Lemster; is a Market town at in Herefordshire, England. Chester is the County town of Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77040 Much Wenlock, earlier known simply as " Wenlock " ("White Place" in Celtic ("Gwyn-loc" is a small town in central Shropshire, England Evesham ( is a middle-sized rural Market town in Worcestershire, UK in the Local Authority District of Wychavon. ^[6]

The manor of Woolhope in Herefordshire, along with three others, was given to the cathedral at Hereford before the Norman Conquest by the benefactresses Wulviva and Godiva - usually held to be this Godiva and her sister. Constitution Herefordshire was reconstituted both as a new Non-metropolitan district (effective 19th July 1996 and as a new County comprising the area of the Hereford ( ˈhɛrɨfəd is a city, Civil parish and County town of Herefordshire, England. Wulvia was an Anglo-saxon Noblewoman. Her name survives in that of the Herefordshire village of Woolhope - "Wulviva's Hope" (hope = The church there has a 20th century stained glass window representing them. For the Blackford Oakes novel see Stained Glass (novel The term stained glass refers either to the material of coloured Glass or to the art ^[7]

Her mark, "di Ego Godiva Comitissa diu istud desideravi", appears on a charter purportedly given by Thorold of Bucknall to the Benedictine monastery of Spalding. Spalding Priory was a small Benedictine house in the town of Spalding, Lincolnshire. However, this charter is considered spurious by many historians. ^[8] Even so it is possible that Thorold, who appears in the Domesday Book as sheriff of Lincolnshire, was her brother. The Domesday Book (ˈduːmzdeɪ bʊk also known as Domesday, or Book of Winchester) was the record of the great survey

After Leofric's death in 1057, his widow lived on until sometime between the Norman Conquest of 1066 and 1086. She is mentioned in the Domesday survey as one of the few Anglo-Saxons and the only woman to remain a major landholder shortly after the conquest. By the time of this great survey in 1086, Godiva had died, but her former lands are listed, although now held by others. ^[9] Thus, Godiva apparently died between 1066 and 1086. ^[1]

The place where Godiva was buried has been a matter of debate. According to the Evesham Chronicle, she was buried at the Church of the Blessed Trinity at Evesham,^[10] which is no longer standing. But, according to the authoritative account in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, "There is no reason to doubt that she was buried with her husband at Coventry, despite the assertion of the Evesham chronicle that she lay in Holy Trinity, Evesham. The Dictionary of National Biography ( DNB) is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history published from 1885 "^[1]

Dugdale (1656) says that a window with representations of Leofric and Godiva was placed in Trinity Church, Coventry, about the time of Richard II. Sir William Dugdale ( 12 September 1605 &ndash 10 February 1686) was an English antiquary Richard II (6 January 1367 &ndash ca 14 February 1400 was King of England from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399

The legend

Lady Godiva statue by Sir William Reid Dick unveiled at midday on 22 October 1949 in Broadgate, Coventry, a £20,000 gift from Mr WH Bassett-Green, a Coventrian. Sir William Reid Dick (1879 - 1961 was a Scottish sculptor. Born in Glasgow, he became an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1921 and a Royal Coventry ( is a city and Metropolitan borough in the County of West Midlands in England. ^[11] (photo 2005)

According to the popular story,^[12][13] Lady Godiva took pity on the people of Coventry, who were suffering grievously under her husband's oppressive taxation. Lady Godiva appealed again and again to her husband, who obstinately refused to remit the tolls. At last, weary of her entreaties, he said he would grant her request if she would strip naked and ride through the streets of the town. Lady Godiva took him at his word and, after issuing a proclamation that all persons should keep within doors and shut their windows, she rode through the town, clothed only in her long hair. Only one person in the town, a tailor ever afterwards known as Peeping Tom, disobeyed her proclamation in one of the most famous instances of voyeurism. Voyeurism is the sexual interest in spying on people engaged in intimate behaviors such as undressing sexual activity or urinating ^[14] In the story, Tom bores a hole in his shutters so that he might see Godiva pass, and is struck blind. ^[15] In the end, Godiva's husband keeps his word and abolishes the onerous taxes.

The oldest form of the legend has Godiva passing through Coventry market from one end to the other while the people were assembled, attended only by two knights. ^[16] This version is given in Flores Historiarum by Roger of Wendover (died 1236), a somewhat gullible collector of anecdotes, who quoted from an earlier writer. The Flores Historiarum ( Flowers of History) is a Latin Chronicle dealing with English history from the creation to Roger of Wendover (died May 6, 1236) probably a native of Wendover in Buckinghamshire The later story, with its episode of "Peeping Tom", appeared first among 17th century chroniclers. As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 17th Century was that Century which lasted from 1601 - 1700 in the Gregorian calendar

Lady Godiva: Edmund Blair Leighton depicts the moment of decision (1892)

At the time, it was customary for penitents to make a public procession in only their shift, a sleeveless white garment similar to a slip today and one which was certainly considered "underwear. Edmund Blair Leighton ( September 21, 1853 &mdash September 1, 1922) was an English painter associated with the Pre-Raphaelite The term chemise can refer to the classic smock or shift, or else can refer to certain modern types of women's undergarments and dresses A slip is a Woman 's Undergarment worn beneath a dress or skirt to help it hang smoothly and to prevent chafing of the Skin from coarse " Thus, some scholars speculate, Godiva may have actually travelled through town as a penitent, in her shift. Godiva's story may have passed into folk history to be recorded in a romanticised version. Another theory has it that Lady Godiva's "nakedness" may refer to her riding through the streets stripped of her jewellery, the trademark of her upper class rank. Is a concept in Sociology that refers to the group of people at the top of a Social hierarchy. However, both these attempts to reconcile known facts with legend are weak; there is no known use of the word "naked" in the era of the earliest accounts to mean anything other than "without any clothing whatsoever". ^[17]

Moreover, there is no trace of any version of the story in sources contemporary with Godiva, a story that would certainly have been recorded even in its most tame interpretations. Additionally, with the founding of Coventry circa 1043, there was little opportunity for the city to have developed to an extent that would have supported such a noble gesture. Lastly, the only recorded tolls were on horses. Thus, it remains doubtful whether there is any historical basis for the famous ride.

Like the story of Peeping Tom, the claim that Godiva's long hair effectively hid her nakedness from sight is generally believed to have been a later addition (cf. Rapunzel). " Rapunzel " is a German Fairy tale in the collection assembled by the Brothers Grimm, and first published in 1812 as part of Children's Certain other thematic elements are familiar in myth and fable: the resistant Lord (cf. The word mythology (from the Greek grc μυθολογία mythología, meaning "a story-telling a legendary lore" A fable is a succinct story in prose or verse that features Animals Plants inanimate objects, or forces of nature which are Esther and Ahasuerus), the exacted promise, the stringent condition and the test of chastity. Esther ( born Hadassah, is a queen of Persian Empire in the Hebrew Bible, the queen of Ahasuerus (traditionally identified with Artaxerxes Ahasuerus ( Latin: Xerxes, Persian: Khashayarshah, commonly transliterated Achashverosh) is a name used several times in the Even if Peeping Tom is a late addition, his being struck blind demonstrates the closely knit themes of the violated mystery and the punished intruder (cf. Diana and Actaeon). In Roman mythology, Diana was the goddess of the hunt, being associated with wild animals and woodland and also of the Moon. In Greek mythology, Actaeon (ækˈtiən (Greek Ακταίων) son of the priestly herdsman Aristaeus and Autonoe in Boeotia,

Popular culture

• The Godiva Procession, a commemoration of the legendary ride instituted on May 31, 1678, as part of Coventry fair, was celebrated at intervals until 1826. Events 1279 BC - Rameses II (The Great (19th dynasty becomes pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. For the game see 1826 (board game. Year 1826 ( MDCCCXXVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display From 1848 to 1887, it was revived and continues into the 21st century as part of the Godiva Festival. Year 1848 ( MDCCCXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap Year 1887 ( MDCCCLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The 21st century is the current century of the Christian Era or Common Era in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. The Godiva Festival is a free weekend long music festival held each year in the War Memorial Park, Coventry, England, named after the city's famous
• The wooden effigy of Peeping Tom which, from 1812 until World War II, looked out on the world from a hotel at the northwest corner of Hertford Street, Coventry, can now be found in Cathedral Lanes Shopping Centre. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including It represents a man in armour and was probably an image of Saint George. In Christian hagiography Saint George is one of the most venerated saints in the Anglican Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Nearby, in the 1950s rebuilt Broadgate, an animated Peeping Tom watches over Lady Godiva as she makes her hourly ride around the Godiva Clock. ^[18]
• From the mid 1980s a Coventry resident, Pru Porretta, has adopted a Lady Godiva role to promote community events and good works in the city. In 1999 Coventry councillors considered eliminating Godiva from the city's public identity. ^[19] As of 2005, Porretta retains the status of Coventry's unofficial ambassador. Each September Poretta marks the occasion of Lady Godiva's birthday by leading a local pageant focusing on world peace and unity known as The Godiva Sisters. In August 2007, the Godiva Sisters was performed in front of 900 delegates from 69 countries attending the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children Biennial Conference held at the University of Warwick.
• Godiva was immortalized anew in the poem Godiva by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Godiva is a Poem written in 1842 by the poet Alfred Lord Tennyson ( 1809 - 1892) Alfred Tennyson 1st Baron Tennyson (6 August 1809 – 6 October 1892 was Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom and remains one of the most popular English poets
• In Cockney rhyming slang a £5 note (or fiver) is referred to as a Lady Godiva. Rhyming slang is a form of Slang in which a word is replaced either by another word or phrase that rhymes with it or by the first word of such a phrase in which

Engineering mascot

In many university engineering faculties, military engineering corps and other engineering organisations, Lady Godiva is regarded as a mascot and called the "Patron Saint of Engineers" or "Goddess of Engineering". A university is an institution of Higher education and Research, which grants Academic degrees in a variety of subjects Engineering is the Discipline and Profession of applying technical and scientific Knowledge and A military engineer is primarily responsible for the design and construction of offensive defensive and logistical structures for Warfare Other duties include the The origin is unclear, although it probably developed in Britain, where several early engineering schools were founded during the industrial revolution. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom from 1 January 1801 until 12 April 1927 The Industrial Revolution was a period in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when major changes in agriculture manufacturing and transportation had a profound effect on the The practice migrated to North America through Canadian schools, such as the University of Toronto which today holds an annual "Godiva Week" in January consisting of events intended to engender school spirit. This article is about the University of Toronto's St George Campus By the mid-20th century, the practice of engineering organisations associating themselves with Lady Godiva was well established in the United States.

A particular tradition associated with this is that of drinking songs, which make reference to Lady Godiva, particularly Godiva's Hymn. A drinking song is a song sung while drinking that is consuming Alcohol. Godiva's Hymn (sometimes Engineer's Hymn or Engineers' Drinking Song) is a traditional Drinking song for engineers

Historically, certain college organisations staged an annual "Godiva Ride" in which a naked female (or a costumed male) rode a horse across campus. ^[20] This practice may have declined with the advent of modern feminist attitudes. Feminism is a discourse that involves various movements theories, and Philosophies which are concerned with the issue of Gender difference, advocate ^[21]

Music

Several popular songs make contemporary usage of the Lady Godiva image. These include:

• The Velvet Underground's "Lady Godiva's Operation" on their 1968 LP, White Light/White Heat, referring to a transwoman who dies at the hands of her surgeons during a sexual reassignment-turned-lobotomy. This article is about the band For their self-titled album see The Velvet Underground (album; for the book see The Velvet Underground (book " Lady Godiva's Operation " is a song by American Avant-garde rock band The Velvet Underground, appearing on their second album A gramophone White Light/White Heat is the second album by The Velvet Underground. A transwoman (also spelled trans woman or trans-woman) is a male-to-female transsexual and the term transwoman is preferred by many such Sex reassignment therapy (SRT is an Umbrella term for all medical procedures regarding sex reassignment of both Transgender and Intersexual people A lobotomy ( Greek: lobos Lobe of Brain, tomos "cut/slice" is a form of Psychosurgery, also known as a leukotomy or
• Peter and Gordon's "Lady Godiva" (1966 in the UK, 1967 in the US) is about a woman who becomes involved in a burlesque show. Peter and Gordon were a British Invasion -era performing duo formed by Peter Asher and Gordon Waller, that rocketed to fame in 1964 with " Burlesque is theatrical entertainment of broad and parodic humor which usually consists of comic skits (and sometimes a strip tease) Like Coventry's Lady Godiva, the Lady Godiva of the song has long flowing hair that covers her body. However, the song has her hair cut as a condition to her performing in the burlesque show.
• Grant Lee Buffalo's song "Lady Godiva and Me" from their 1994 album, Mighty Joe Moon, includes references to Peeping Tom. Grant Lee Buffalo was a rock band based in Los Angeles California, consisting of Grant-Lee Phillips ( vocals and Guitar Mighty Joe Moon is the second Album by Alternative rock group Grant Lee Buffalo, released in 1994
• Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show recorded the song "Hey, Lady Godiva". Dr Hook and the Medicine Show was a pop - country Rock band formed around Union City New Jersey in 1969
• Mother Love Bone recorded a song, "Lady Godiva Blues", on their 1992 self-titled album. Mother Love Bone was an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1988
• Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" sees Freddie Mercury "passing by like Lady Godiva". Queen were an English rock band formed in 1970 in London by guitarist " Don't Stop Me Now " ( is a 1979 hit single by Queen, from their 1978 album Jazz. Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara; 5 September 1946 – 24 November 1991 was a Zanzibar -born British Musician, best known as the lead
• Simply Red recorded "Lady Godiva’s Room" on their 1992 EP Montreux
• Aerosmith's song "My Girl" from their album, Pump, contains the line, "My girl's a Lady Godiva. Simply Red is an English pop band Their style draws influences from pop, rock, jazz, Lovers rock, and Blue-eyed soul Montreux is a municipality in the district of Vevey in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. Aerosmith is an American Hard rock band sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston " and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band" Pump is the tenth studio Album by American Hard rock band Aerosmith, released in 1989 "
• In Peter Gabriel's song "Modern Love" off his self-titled 1977 album, he states "For Lady Godiva I came incognito". Peter Brian Gabriel (born 13 February 1950 in Chobham, Surrey, England) is an English Musician and Songwriter.
• In the theme song to the situation comedy Maude, the opening lines were, "Lady Godiva was a Freedom Rider,/ She didn't care if the whole world looked. Maude is an Emmy and Golden Globe -winning half-hour American Television Sitcom that was originally broadcast on the Freedom Rider is also a song by Traffic and later Rascal Flatts Civil Rights activists called Freedom Riders rode in interstate buses . . "
• Boney M's song "Lady Godiva" was released in 1993 on the album Boney M. Boney M is a German pop and Disco group created by West German Record producer Frank Farian. More Gold.

Opera

The plot of the Mascagni's opera Isabeau is based on the story of Lady Godiva. WikipediaWikiProject Composers#Lead section --> Pietro Mascagni ( December 7, 1863 &ndash August 2, Isabeau is a leggenda drammatica or Opera in three parts by Pietro Mascagni, 1911 from an Italian Libretto by

Literature

• In 1939, Dr. Seuss wrote a short illustrated novel entitled The Seven Lady Godivas: The True Facts Concerning History's Barest Family, based on the character. Theodor Seuss Geisel (ˈsɔɪs ˈɡaɪzəl March 2 1904 – September 24 1991 was an American Writer and Cartoonist, better known by his pen name The Seven Lady Godivas The True Facts Concerning History's Barest Family is a picture book of the tale of Lady Godiva, written and illustrated by Dr
• Lady Godiva is mentioned in Sylvia Plath's poem "Ariel". Sylvia Plath (October 27 1932 &ndash February 11 1963 was an American Poet, Novelist and Short story Writer.
• Lady Godiva also appears in Ezra Pound's poem "Nicotine". Ezra Weston Loomis Pound ( Hailey, Idaho Territory, United States October 30 1885 – Venice, Italy November 1 1972 was an American Expatriate
• Lady Godiva also appears in "Godiva", a poem by Sir Alfred Tennyson. Alfred Tennyson 1st Baron Tennyson (6 August 1809 – 6 October 1892 was Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom and remains one of the most popular English poets

Television

• In the Charmed episode "The Bare Witch Project", a student in Magic School accidentally conjures Lady Godiva and Lord Dyson out of a history book. The following is an episode list for the WB Television series Charmed. Later, Phoebe, inspired by Lady Godiva, decides to ride naked through a crowded street in support of women's liberation.
• In an episode "The Godiva Affair" of the British sitcom Dad's Army, women in the town of Walmington-on-Sea compete for the part of Lady Godiva to head a carnival procession in the town, ultimately performed by Elizabeth, the wife of Captain Mainwaring, causing him to collapse in astonishment and shame. The Godiva Affair is the fourth episode of the seventh British comedy series Dad's Army that was originally transmitted on Friday 6 A British sitcom is a Situation comedy (sitcom produced in the United Kingdom. Dad’s Army is a British sitcom about the Home Guard in the Second World War.
• The Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling featured a character named Godiva who rode to the ring on a horse and wore a sheer bodysuit. Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, also known as GLOW or GLOW, was a Professional wrestling promotion for women begun in 1986 (the pilot was filmed
• The Histeria! episode "Tribute to Tyrants" featured a sketch about the legend of Lady Godiva, portrayed by the World's Oldest Woman. Histeria! is an American Animated television series of the late-1990s created by Tom Ruegger (who also created Tiny Toon Adventures Aka Pella Aka Pella, voiced by Cree Summer, is the only African-American member of the Kid Chorus
• In one Frasier episode, a girl is wearing a Lady Godiva costume. Frasier is an American sitcom, a Spin-off of Cheers starring Kelsey Grammer as
• In another Frasier episode, the character of Maris was involved in an unfortunate chemical bonding incident while performing a Lady Godiva impression on a horse saddle her husband Niles Crane had bought her. Frasier is an American sitcom, a Spin-off of Cheers starring Kelsey Grammer as Maris Crane is a Fictional character on the American television Sitcom Frasier. Dr Niles Crane (born 1957) is a fictional character on the American Sitcom Frasier, a Spin-off of the popular show
• The Maude theme song begins with the words, "Lady Godiva was a freedom rider; she didn't care if the whole world looked!". Maude is an Emmy and Golden Globe -winning half-hour American Television Sitcom that was originally broadcast on the
• In the Blackadder Goes Forth episode "Private Plane", Captain Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) describes the Royal Flying Corps as "the biggest show-offs since Lady Godiva entered the royal enclosure at Ascot claiming she had literally nothing to wear". Blackadder Goes Forth is the fourth and final series of the BBC Situation comedy Blackadder, written by Richard Curtis Rowan Atkinson (born 6 January 1955 is an English Comedian, actor and writer famous for his title roles in the British television comedies Blackadder The Royal Flying Corps (RFC was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War.
• In the Round the Twist episode "Linda Godiva", Linda helps Pete win a cross-country horse race by being invisible, she is later turned visible and is seen riding the horse naked. Round the Twist is a Logie Award -winning Australian Children's television series about three children and their widowed father who live in a
• In the first episode of The Vicar of Dibley, several characters reminisce about when Letitia Cropley rode through Dibley stark naked in a Lady Godiva reenactment. The Vicar of Dibley is a British sitcom created by Richard Curtis and written for its lead actress Dawn French, by Curtis and Paul
• In the Seinfeld episode "The Apology", Jerry's girlfriend regularly walks around in his apartment naked, and at one point he refers to her as "Lady Godiva". Seinfeld is an American Situation comedy, or sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5 1989 to May 14 1998 lasting nine seasons
• The title of Canadian comedy-drama series Godiva's is an allusion to Lady Godiva. This is an article about the television series Godiva's For other uses see Godiva (disambiguation.
• In an episode of Time Squad Larry showed Otto videos of previous missions and in one of these missions Lady Godiva was riding her horse naked while Tuddrussel ran after her, trying to persuade her to wear some clothes. Time Squad is an American Animated television series created in 2001 by David Wasson, following the adventures of a trio of hapless "time cops"
• In an episode of Spin City, the mayor's rebellious daughter rides naked though central park in protest. Spin City is an American Sitcom Television series that ran from 1996 to 2002 on ABC, and was created by
• In an episode of The West Wing, Josh Lyman refers to Amy as Lady Godiva after she asks him to make changes to an international treaty that would criminalize all prostitution rather than just forced prostitution.

Film

From 1911 onward, several films have been made with the title "Lady Godiva". ^[22] These include: Lady Godiva Rides Again (1951) starring English actress Diana Dors^[23] and Lady Godiva (1955) starring Irish actress Maureen O'Hara. Lady Godiva Rides Again was a 1951 film starring Diana Dors, about a small-town English girl who wins a beauty contest and heads for greater fame The English people (from the adjective in Englisc) are a Nation and Ethnic group native to England who predominantly speak English Diana Dors ( October 23, 1931 &ndash May 4, 1984) was an English actress and Sex symbol. The Irish people ( Irish: Muintir na hÉireann, na hÉireannaigh, na Gaeil) are a Western European Ethnic group who originate Maureen O'Hara (born Maureen FitzSimons on 17 August 1920 in Ranelagh, County Dublin, Ireland) is an Irish film actress ^[24]

A 1949 Three Stooges short film, The Ghost Talks, featured one of the boys playing Peeping Tom in a slapstick send-up of the Lady Godiva legend. The Three Stooges were an American Vaudeville and Comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous Short subject films Inspired by an encounter between the stooges and a haunted, empty suit of armour occupied by Tom's spirit, the film changes key elements of the legend, eliminating Tom's blindness as his penalty and inventing a relationship between the tailor and the Lady. The Stooges act out the ghost's narrative of the events of the famous day in costumes based on the clothing of a period many years later than the life of the historic Godiva.

In the 1988 film High Spirits with Peter O'Toole, the character Eamon, when trying to get two of the castle's female employees to pose as ghosts, tells Patricia he can see her as a mermaid, or the 'Lady Godiva'. High Spirits is an 1988 comedy film directed by Neil Jordan. Set in a remote Irish castle High Spirits is a topsy-turvy comedy with Peter O'Toole (born 2 August 1932) is an Irish and British actor who achieved instant stardom in 1962 playing T

Sports

• Lady Godiva is the name of a women's Ultimate team from Boston, Massachusetts. Ultimate (often called Ultimate Frisbee in reference to the trademarked brand name) is a non-contact Team sport played with a 175 gram Flying

Notes

See also

• Asteroid 3018 Godiva, named after Lady Godiva
• Godiva Chocolates, a chocolate company named after and featuring artwork of Godiva on their boxes
• Lady Godiva syndrome
• Public nudity
• The Seven Lady Godivas, an early Dr. Seuss book
• Nudity and protest

External links

• Lady Godiva, the website of the women's sports team
• Cecilia Parsons, "Countess Godiva", 1999, revised 2004: biography and developing legend
• BBC News – the unearthing of a stained glass window identified with Lady Godiva
• James Grout: Lady Godiva, part of the Encyclopædia Romana
• How Lady Godiva Got a Tax Break