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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture

Colleagues

We have received an interesting query relating to depictions of St Catherine in medieval images (wall-paintings, glass, wood-cuts etc.). The standard convention shows her standing next to, in front of, or sometimes holding, a wheel around which are a number of nasty-looking blades (and on which she was tortured, before being beheaded when the wheel broke).

However, some images show a second wheel.

Two Literature Professors are currently debating whether the Catherine Wheel was a machine of many wheels (interlocking, grinding, gears) or one wheel, like a sawmill wheel that cuts logs.

The 15th century wall-painting of St Catherine found at St Teilo's church, Llandeilo Tal-y-bont in south Wales, shows the 'typical' arrangement (see http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/rhagor/article/2039/ ), but what are your views?





Gerallt D. Nash

Senior Curator, Historic Buildings

St Fagans: National History Museum,

Cardiff, Wales



YMWADIAD
Mae pob neges ebost a anfonir i neu gan Amgueddfa Cymru yn cael ei
sganio gan systemau diogelwch awtomatig er mwyn rheoli negeseuon
digymell a dileu cynnwys amhriodol neu beryglus. Cafodd y neges hon ei
sganio am firysau cyn ei hanfon, ond dylech hefyd fodloni’ch hun bod y
neges, a phob atodiad ynddi, yn rhydd o firysau cyn ei defnyddio gan nad
yw’r Amgueddfa’n derbyn cyfrifoldeb am unrhyw golled neu ddifrod o
ganlyniad i agor y neges neu unrhyw atodiadau. Gall y neges hon ac
unrhyw ffeiliau a atodir ynddi gynnwys gwybodaeth gyfrinachol a
fwriadwyd ar gyfer y derbynnydd yn unig. Os ydych chi wedi derbyn y
neges trwy gamgymeriad, rhowch wybod i ni a dilëwch y neges.
Safbwyntiau personol yr awdur yw’r safbwyntiau a fynegir yn y neges
hon, ac nid ydynt o reidrwydd yn cynrychioli safbwyntiau’r Amgueddfa. Nid
yw’r Amgueddfa’n atebol am unrhyw wallau, llygredd neu esgeulustod a
allai godi wrth drosglwyddo’r neges hon, felly peidiwch â dibynnu ar y
cynnwys heb ofyn am ganiatâd ysgrifenedig.

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