A Very Distinguished Minority!

By Liz Egger     In which I find out that nudists have some very notable companions. ( From May 2003)

I need your help. 

You see, I've been researching a series of articles on notable nudists, and I've discovered a reference to a shadowy character called "Iothane of Umbra". If she ever existed, she must have been one of the most remarkable nudists whoever lived.

According to the story, Iothane and her husband Godelfe were the rulers over what is today Northumberland, in northeast England. This was during a period known as the Dark Ages, at a time when the land was fragmented into small kingdoms and petty fiefdoms, and the heathen natives were being converted to Christianity.

The story goes that Godelfe, recognising the political advantages that would accrue from adopting the Christian Faith, eagerly changed his religion and enthusiastically applied the Church's teaching, including the outlawing of the casual nudity which was, until then, fairly widespread.

Iothane however, had different ideas. A Celt by birth, nudity was natural to her and she bitterly resented the Christian interference in the "old ways". She determined to defy the authorities and commenced a life-long campaign of what would today be called " nude disobedience." For the rest of her long life she refused to wear any type of clothing at any time, except for a bearskin cloak whilst travelling during the coldest weather, even, apparently, performing her formal duties as the chatelaine of a medieval fiefdom completely naked.

Iothane managed to outlive her husband and most of those clerics whom she so hated, thus providing us with a happy ending and proof, if it were needed, that a nude life is, indeed, a healthy one!

Well, so goes the story. And what a great story it is - even though it bears more than a passing resemblance to the tale of Lady Godiva. Sadly, despite much investigation, I've not found one shred of evidence to support it, or even the existence of Iothane. So if you can help me shed some light on it please get in touch. Because if this IS a factual account of a real person, then I'm going to start a campaign to get Iothane of Umbra adopted as the patron saint of nudists! 

Here are a few more notable nudists uncovered by my researches - this time all too real and somewhat larger than life. 

The actress Joan Crawford was extremely proud of her body, and although she was often emotionally frail she kept herself in tip-top physical form. She would often meet her dates wearing just her lingerie, or sometimes nothing at all. Even in her middle years she liked to display her charms, and before the
filming of "Torch Song" the 50 year-old actress appeared at director Charles Walters's home wearing nothing but a housecoat. Flinging open the garment she explained, " I think you should see what you have to work with." Walters was impressed. 

Pauline Bonaparte was the Emperor Napoleon's favourite sister. She was also one of the outstanding beauties of her time, a medically diagnosed nymphomaniac and the model for Canova's most famous sculpture.

Pauline loved to display her nude body as often, and as fully, as possible. In a time not noted for its standards of personal hygiene, she had an obsession with cleanliness as her body was constantly exposed. She bathed every morning in a bath containing 20 litres of milk topped up with hot water (shades of Cleopatra?). This was something of a crowded event, as she would disrobe and be carried to her bath by her young black servant Paul whilst an admiring audience watched the proceedings.

So proud was she of her perfect body that she commissioned the Italian artist Antonio Canova to sculpt her in marble as a nude Venus. When a scandalised friend asked her how she could pose naked she replied innocently, "It was not cold. There was a fire in the studio" 

US President Jack Kennedy liked to skinny-dip in the White House swimming pool, often, allegedly - when Jackie was absent- in the company of one or more similarly un-attired young beauties. We don't know whether Jackie also used the White House pool for skinny-dipping sessions, but that she too enjoyed relaxing in the buff became obvious in the seventies when photos of her sunbathing naked on a private Greek beach appeared in a men's magazine. Her then husband, Greek multi-millionaire Aristotle Onassis, was furious and tried to stifle publication of the pictures, but Jackie, apparently, was rather unconcerned about the whole thing. 

Throughout history, many of the great and the good (and the not so good!) have been attracted to nudism. They include some of the movers and shakers and cultural icons that have helped shape our society. 

We nudists are still a minority, in the wider scheme of things.

But what a very DISTINGUISHED minority!
'Til next time,

Liz

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