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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture I do not recall having read that are any signs of injury. There was a formal Recognition in 1871, at which time a detailed study of the remains (as they were then) will have been made. In the course of that investigation it was determined that there had been an earlier recognition in the late fifth or early sixth century. In about the year 835 the bodies of all three saints were placed in a porphyry container, from which in 1871 the bodies now displayed are said to have been removed. I said "decapitated" (which latter of course does not specify agency) only because it stuck in my mind from reading somewhere that the separation of the skulls from the remainder had been taken as a proof of martyrdom. But I couldn't find a confirming reference just now, so possibly this is just speculation that had hardened into "fact". For the very little it's worth, in their legendary Passio only Protase is executed by decapitation. Gervase dies under the lash. Best again, John Dillon On Wednesday, June 20, 2007, at 1:24 pm, Diana Wright wrote: > John Dillon wrote: > > medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture > > > > Yesterday (19. June) was the feast day of: > > > > 1) Gervase and Protase (??). G. and P. are the names assigned to > the two tall, male, decapitated skeletons whose remains St. Ambrose of > Milan, acting in 386 upon what he called a presentiment (to St. > Augustine of Hippo and to Paulinus of Milan, it was a revelation), > found in buried in that city's cemetery near the church of Sts. Nabor > and Felix. Certainly it was providential, as A. now had two martyrs > with whose remains he could sanctify his new cathedral, then still > under construction. G. and P.'s translation to their new resting > place, next to the one A. had destined for himself, took place on 19. > June. Here they are now, with A. between them, in the crypt of > Milan's Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio: > > http://tinyurl.com/r5otc > > http://static.flickr.com/52/124723968_aff97d80b8.jpg > > > > > > The departed appear to have skulls. Does decapitated in this case > simply mean that the skulls were not attached, which is what happens > when you get down to bones? Or do vertebrae show signs of injury? > ********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html