Born: 1060 (circa), Austria
Died: 7 February 1127
Country most active: Austria
Also known as: Ava of Göttweig, Ava of Melk
The following is excerpted from “400 Outstanding Women of the World and the Costumology of Their Time” by Minna Moscherosch Schmidt, published in 1933.
Records of women’s accomplishments in the twelfth century were sparse. The dates of their birth and death were ignored. For this reason little is known about Frau Ava, the first poetess to write in the German language. Obviously, her writings were inspired by the deep love of her two sons. Among her works still known are: The Life of Christ, The Gifts of The Holy Ghost and The Anti-Christ and The Last Judgment. In all of these the plea, to say a prayer for the departed soul of the poetess’ children, who died at a tender age, can be traced. It is not difficult, despite only fragment records of Frau Ava’s life, to detect her deep maternal love and religious nature. Why didn’t the sons write about their mother? No one can say. In the annals of the Convent of Melk the death of Frau Ava is recorded in 1127. Widows, in those remote days often entered convents as lay sisters. Within the confines they were afforded protection and could finish their days doing penance and good work.