Whatever we know about the 12th-century religious polymath Hildegard of Bingen is new knowledge, because she all but vanished from the record until the 1970s when her work was rediscovered, turning her into a cult figure. And there was plenty to discover. Essentially a Benedictine nun, she was also a mystic given to visions, theologian, poet, musician… her recent list of achievements has come to include feminist icon as well as Doctor of the Church (Pope Benedict being one of her biggest fans).