I think James, one of the apostles, was originally a fisherman and for that
reason the shell became associated with him.
Penny
Penelope Carter
Librarian
National Gallery of Scotland
The Mound
Edinburgh
EH2 2EL
tel. ++44 (0)131-624 6501
fax. ++44 (0)131-220 0917
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nicole Morgan Schulman [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 02 February 2000 13:44
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: cockle shell
>
> I have just joined the medieval religion list
>
> I wonder if anyone can help me with any or all of the following:
>
> 1 the iconographic/imagery meaning of some of the flowers found
> as borders on the more baroque of funeral monuments I am researching.
> Whilst these are 18th century, the imagery is bound to be earlier. The
> main ones to be found are: daisies, roses, tulips, with occasional yew
> berries and stylised leaves that could be acanthus leaves. Sometimes
> urns (looking rather like waste paper baskets!) are found, as well as very
> cheerful painted angels!
>
> 2 Why James of Compostella is shown with a cockle shell as his
> pilgrim badge. My various books on saints do not throw any light on this.
>
>
> Liz Pitman
>
>
>
>
> Can't help with the first... As for the shell, it *became* the pilgrims
> badge for Santiago de Compostella -- presumably because of the ocean's
> proximity? Hence it is applied anachronistically to the Saint himself.
> Since this was such an important pilgrimage route the shell became
> emblematic of the pilgrim in general, so other "pilgrim" saints are shown
> with it (St. Roch for example). Hope that helps!
>
>
> Dr. N. M. Schulman
> Assistant Professor, Department of History
> Ohio Wesleyan University
> Delaware, OH 43015-2398 U.S.A.
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