This image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Licence
Buy this image as a print
BuyLicense this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library
LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Licence
Buy this image as a print
BuyLicense this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library
LicenseWooden statue of Saint Margaret of Antioch, patron of nurses
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Wooden statue of Saint Margaret of Antioch, patron of nurses
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Wooden statue of Saint Margaret of Antioch, patron of nurses, invoked by married woman and against sterility, wounds and facial blemishes, possibly French, 1700-1850
In this wooden carving, St Margaret of Antioch (d. 304 CE) is shown trampling a dragon. Margaret is the Catholic patron saint of nurses and women in childbirth. She could also be invoked in relation to infertility. Christian saints are believed to protect against, and help cure, specific diseases and dangers.
One story of Margaret’s martyrdom tells of her being harassed by the ruler of Antioch (now in modern day Turkey) who wanted her to become his mistress. Margaret refused because of her Christian beliefs and was tortured and thrown into prison where she was swallowed by a dragon. She escaped unharmed only to be beheaded.
Details
- Category:
- Classical & Medieval Medicine
- Collection:
- Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
- Object Number:
- A75571
- Materials:
- wood
- Measurements:
-
overall: 535 mm x 182 mm x 125 mm, 2.82kg
- type:
- statue
- credit:
- Treanton
