Bifurcated

Near-synonyms: bifid, bipartite, bilobar, bilobular, split, forked

Elizabeth's disturbing presentation of herself as both virginal and sexual bifurcated after her death into opinion about whether she was virginal or sexual, so that on the one hand Elizabeth was apotheosized as the saint who through her refusal to marry had kept England Protestant and free, while on the other hand she was still the object of detraction by persons such as “one Sheapheard, a barrister of Lincolns Inn, [and] a base Jesuited papist,” who during James I's reign uttered ”base and scandalous” words regarding the late queen's honor.