IMC 2019: Sessions

Session 238: Materiality and Sanctity: St Thomas Becket among the Saints, I - Objects and Iconography

Monday 1 July 2019, 14.15-15.45

Sponsor:	Exploring the Past Pathway, Cardiff University
Organisers:	Elma Brenner, Wellcome Library, London Paul Webster, School of History, Archaeology & Religion, Cardiff University
Moderator/Chair:	Paul Webster, School of History, Archaeology & Religion, Cardiff University
Paper 238-a	Picturing Martyrdom: The Death of Thomas Becket and Other Saintly Priests as Depicted on Portable Media (Language: English) Zina Uzdenskaya, Centre for Medieval Studies, University of Toronto, Downtown Index terms: Archaeology - Artefacts, Art History - Decorative Arts, Lay Piety, Religious Life
Paper 238-b	Materiality and Sanctity: The Case Study of St Marina in Ardea (South of Rome) (Language: English) Giulia Bordi, Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici, Università di Studi Roma Tre Index terms: Architecture - Religious, Art History - Decorative Arts, Hagiography, Religious Life
Paper 238-c	St Thomas Becket and the Peacock: Tracing Becket Symbolism from Chennai to Canterbury (Language: English) John Jenkins, Centre for the Study of Christianity & Culture, University of York Index terms: Archaeology - Artefacts, Art History - Decorative Arts, Hagiography, Lay Piety
Abstract	This session forms the first of a series considering the relationship between material culture and the cult of the medieval saints, presenting new research in progress in the run up to the 2020 anniversaries associated with the cult of St Thomas Becket, and seeking to set the Becket cult in the wider context of devotion to the saints. Papers in this sessions will focus on Becket, other priest-martyrs, St Marina, and St Thomas the Apostle, considering objects and iconography in the form of signs, seals, reliquaries, manuscript illuminations, frescoes and architectural features. Case-studies will include the curious symbolism of the depiction of Becket riding a peacock!