Saxon & Medieval — Early Medieval; mid 13th century
St Thomas Becket
Ampulla from the shrine of St Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. This ampulla has an openwork penannular frame decorated with the words '+OMPVSA+OPTM[VS EG]RORVM MEDICVS FIT' (part of the phrase 'Thomas is the best doctor of the worthy sick'). The vessel itself is decorated with the figure of St Thomas Becket on one side and the scene of his martyrdom on the other. 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. Ampullae containing ‘Canterbury water’ were popular pilgrim souvenirs.
- Category:
- Saxon & Medieval
- Object ID:
- 82.8/19
- Object name:
- St Thomas Becket
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- —
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- Early Medieval; mid 13th century
- Material:
lead alloy
- Measurements/duration:
- H 83 mm, W 70 mm, T 6 mm (overall)
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.