St Thomas Becket

Ampulla from the shrine of St Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. The base of this ampulla is in the form of a ship, commemorating Becket’s return to England from exile in France in December 1170. The neck of the ampulla is decorated on one side with the figure of Becket sitting on a throne. His right hand is raised in blessing. On his left is a kneeling pilgrim and on his right is a coxswain holding the ship’s starboard-mounted side rudder. The coxswain is reaching up to touch St Thomas. On either side of the neck are lug handles so the ampulla could be worn on a string around the neck or hung up at home. On the back of the ampulla is the figure of Christ on the cross with Longinus holding a spear on Christ’s right-hand side, and Stephaton holding a bucket on his left. This last scene may refer to Christ Church (the dedication of Canterbury Cathedral) or the large crucifix which pilgrims would visit at the cathedral.

Canterbury ampullae contained holy water tinged with St Thomas Becket’s blood. The blood had been collected from his wounds by the monks of the cathedral after Becket had been murdered there by four knights of King Henry II on 29 December 1170. Holy water mixed with this blood became a miraculous cure for all kinds of diseases and was said to bring the dead back to life.