medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
The most striking thing about the image, for me, is the long hanging red
hair.
I wonder if a most obscure saint could be portrayed here. But I also agree
the image looks rehashed. In any case, this Venantius was crucified upside
down over a fire and is portrayed with smoke coming from his head. Red
smoke?
MG
Venantius of Camerino M (RM)
Died c. 250. Little is known of Venantius. Legend says that he died at
Camerino near Ancona, Italy, when he was about 17 during the Decian
persecutions. There his relics can be found today. The story is filled
primarily with an account of the savagery of his persecutors, who scourged
him, burned him with flaming torches, hanged him upside-down over a fire,
knocked his teeth out, broke his jaw, threw him to lions (who merely licked
his feet), tossed him over a high cliff, and finally cut off his head. Pope
Clement X, a former bishop of Camerino, raised the feast of Saint Venantius
to the double rite (under the old system) and composed proper hymns for his
office (Attwater2, Benedictines, Bentley, Husenbeth).
In art, Saint Venantius is portrayed as a young man with a banner holding
the city wall. At times he may be shown (1) holding the citadel of Camerino,
(2) holding the city, a palm, and a book, or (3) crucified upside-down with
smoke coming from his head.
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