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Ancient Martyrs

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Giuseppe Bezzuoli. Saint Philomena (1840)
I recall reading some years ago that Philomena was declared a saint based solely on an inscription in the catacombs, and that the Catholic Church "de-sainted" her because there was no other evidence. In the Middle Ages, sainthood was a thing--like rock stars today.
 
Saint Corona!

Yes, there is a Saint Corona! Even more interesting for us, CF members,aAlways out for a historical thrill : she was a true martyr!

During persecutions in Damascus, in 177AD, she heard of a soldier (Sant-Victor) who had been revealed as a Christian, and who was being tortured.

Corona immediately went there, to give him spiritual support.

As she had now revealed her faith, Corona was tied to two palm trees, who had been bent. Then the ropes holding the trees bent, were cut. They violently resumed their original position, thereby ripping Corona apart.

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Saint Corona's memory day is on May 14th (together with St Victor). She is particularly celebrated in Bavaria and Austria, where there is a place named Sankt Corona am Wechsel.

Contrarily to nowadays assumptions, she is not the patron saint of those suffering from plague or epidemia, but of the treasure hunters and the gamblers.
There are some artists who depicted her head downward with the trees tied to her ankles, which I suppose i more realistic, although I doubt any trees could be used to tear a person apart.
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Also, clearly some of these artist had never seen a palm tree.
 
There are some artists who depicted her head downward with the trees tied to her ankles, which I suppose i more realistic, although I doubt any trees could be used to tear a person apart.
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Also, clearly some of these artist had never seen a palm tree.

From the Wikipedia article on Dismemberment:

"Torn apart by two trees
Roman military discipline could be extremely severe, and the emperor Aurelian (r. 270–275 CE), who had a reputation for extreme strictness, instituted the rule that soldiers who seduced the wives of their hosts should have their legs fastened to two bent-down trees, which were then released, ripping the man in two.[23] Similarly, in an unsuccessful rebellion against the emperor Valens in 366 CE, the usurper Procopius met the same fate.[24]

After the defeat of Darius III by Alexander the Great, the Persian monarchy was thrown into turmoil, and Darius was killed. One man, Bessus, claimed the throne as Artaxerxes V, but in 329 BCE, Alexander had him executed. The manner of Bessus' death is rather disputed, and Waldemar Heckel writes:[25]
The exact details of Bessus' death are disputed. He may have been crucified, or torn apart by recoiling trees, or (what is most likely) mutilated before being sent to Ecbatana for execution.
The method of tying people to bent down trees, which are then allowed to recoil, ripping the individual to pieces in the process is, however, mentioned by several travelers to nineteenth century Persia. The British diplomat James Justinian Morier travelled as a special envoy to the Shah in 1808, and Morier writes the following concerning then prevailing criminal justice:[26]
..for the King never pardons theft, and orders a convicted thief to be executed instantly. The mode is as follows: two young trees are by main strength brought together at their summits, and there fastened with cords together. The culprit is then brought out, and his legs are tied with ropes, which are again carried up and: fixed to the top of the trees. The cords that force the trees together are then cut; and, in the elasticity and power of this spring, the body of the thief is torn asunder, and left thus to hang divided on each separate tree. The inflexibility of the King in this point has given to the roads a security, which, in former times, was little known."
Fun times!:jaja-no:
 
There are some artists who depicted her head downward with the trees tied to her ankles, which I suppose i more realistic, although I doubt any trees could be used to tear a person apart.
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Also, clearly some of these artist had never seen a palm tree.
There's a patron saint of gamblers? Wouldn't that be a subset of greed, one of the seven deadly sins?
 
There's a patron saint of gamblers? Wouldn't that be a subset of greed, one of the seven deadly sins?
There are more of them : Saint Cajetan (1480-1547) is the patron saint of unemployed, gamblers, document controllers, gamers and good fortune (there is no sure reason why, maybe because he refused any kind of property?)! In Guatemala, a local Saint Simon (with syncretic roots in Mayan religion) is veneered as the patron saint of the drunk and the gamblers. Saint Bernadino of Siena (1380-1444) is the patron saint of gambling addicts and compulsive gamblers (and of advertising and communications).

About the deadly sin aspect, I recall a quote from the movie 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly', by Angel Eyes (the Bad) :
"Even the filthiest beggar has a protecting angel!"
 
The ancient martyr described here is St beta. A good description of this martyrdom could read "THE LAST NAIL"

(A translation of the Latin inscription under the original drawing says,
"I would rather die on the cross than to willingly share the governor's bedchamber").

After the girl had admitted to being a Christian and spurned the governor's advances, he had a stripped and tied to his bed where he took his pleasure of her anyway and when she continued to profess her faith, he ordered that she be taken outside the city walls and nailed naked to a cross.
The illustration shows her in a state of religious ecstasy awaiting the completion of her martyrdom, while the executioner collects the last nail.
 

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The ancient martyr described here is St beta. A good description of this martyrdom could read "THE LAST NAIL"

(A translation of the Latin inscription under the original drawing says,
"I would rather die on the cross than to willingly share the governor's bedchamber").

After the girl had admitted to being a Christian and spurned the governor's advances, he had a stripped and tied to his bed where he took his pleasure of her anyway and when she continued to profess her faith, he ordered that she be taken outside the city walls and nailed naked to a cross.
The illustration shows her in a state of religious ecstasy awaiting the completion of her martyrdom, while the executioner collects the last nail.

She looks to me, from her lack of clothing, to be an open Beta.

I'll bet she came back as St. Stable Release.


:comp4:
 
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Martyrdom of Santa Eulalia de Barcelona by Bartolomé Ordóñez (XVI c.). Trascoro of Barcelona Cathedral

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The Roman magistrate tries to convince the young Eulalia to make sacrifices to the Emperor.

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Eulalia is whipped tied in a column. The saint appears bare-chested but has a loincloth on her waist.

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The small breast of Santa Eulalia show her youth
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Santa Eulalia is then laid down in a brazier with burning coals.
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It is not well appreciated but the saint seems to be completely naked while suffering fire torture.

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Finally Santa Eulalia is crucified in an x cross
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Another view
 
The ancient martyr described here is St beta. A good description of this martyrdom could read "THE LAST NAIL"

(A translation of the Latin inscription under the original drawing says,
"I would rather die on the cross than to willingly share the governor's bedchamber").

After the girl had admitted to being a Christian and spurned the governor's advances, he had a stripped and tied to his bed where he took his pleasure of her anyway and when she continued to profess her faith, he ordered that she be taken outside the city walls and nailed naked to a cross.
The illustration shows her in a state of religious ecstasy awaiting the completion of her martyrdom, while the executioner collects the last nail.
St. Beta \ Beata \ Benedicta.
 
The martyrdom of St Julia.

Completely oblivious of the hands removing her garments, she stares upwards at the cross being erected for her execution.
Actually that's St Catherine of Alexandria, as imagined by Pietro Ricchi - a very sensuous baroque painter, he seemed to specialise in martyrs and other girls in peril rolling their eyes heavenward.
 
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Martyrdom of Santa Eulalia de Barcelona by Bartolomé Ordóñez (XVI c.). Trascoro of Barcelona Cathedral

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The Roman magistrate tries to convince the young Eulalia to make sacrifices to the Emperor.

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Eulalia is whipped tied in a column. The saint appears bare-chested but has a loincloth on her waist.

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The small breast of Santa Eulalia show her youth
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Santa Eulalia is then laid down in a brazier with burning coals.
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It is not well appreciated but the saint seems to be completely naked while suffering fire torture.

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Finally Santa Eulalia is crucified in an x cross
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Another view
Needless to say, those carvings have played a great part in my fantasy life since I was a young and impressionable age!
 

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