medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
The discussion of textile relics apropos of Jacoba de Settesoli (8 Feb.) recalls the recently commemmorated Agatha, whose veil has been protecting Catania from Mt. Etna since antiquity and has often been displayed when the volcano is particularly restive. Nonetheless, this Sicilian relic is in surprisingly good shape.
Here are some photos of it in procession during the festivities of 2002 (which also featured USAmerican firemen from a nearby NATO base):
http://www.cataniaperte.it/santagata/foto/foto_s_agata.htm (scroll down to "Manifestazioni di gennaio" or find-in-page "Velo").
And here's a description of it:
http://space.tin.it/clubnet/lucadiod/agata/italiano/velo.htm
Florence has some of the veil as well (a 15th-century donation, but the reliquary is of the 18th century):
http://space.tin.it/arte/whpar/SA_SAVelo.html
Catania also has an elaborate 14th-century reliquary bust (enamelled silver) of Agatha:
http://www.siciliainfoto.com/S.%20Agata.htm
http://www.siciliainfoto.com/s.agata.JPG
http://www.diocesi.catania.it/sa_reliquie.htm
http://www.comune.catania.it/conoscerect/sagata/s_agata.htm
http://www.comune.catania.it/conoscerect/sagata/le_foto.htm
Commissioned in 1373 by a bishop of Catania who hailed from Limoges, and executed by the Sienese master Giovanni di Bartolo, it was completed in 1376. The jewelry and other ornamentation are later additions, as is also the three-tiered base.
Best,
John Dillon
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