A symbol of devotion, the beautiful medieval Saint Catherine of the Wheel wax seal necklace pendant.
"Well behaved women rarely make history!" ~ Marilyn Monroe
- description -
Saint Catherine is holding the wheel, later called the "Catherine Wheel" which describes one prepared to undergo great trials for the Christian faith. She is surrounded by a Latin legend, in Lombardic script, that begins with a star followed by an S', an abbreviation for sigillum or ‘the seal’ and I'm still trying to determine the rest of the legend... it's likely the name and title of the owner.
- symbolism -
In heraldry, the Catherine Wheel symbolizes one prepared to undergo great trials for the Christian faith.
Hand cast from a European medieval chessman wax seal that dates back to the 1400 - 1500's, shown in the photos.
- approximate measurement - 3/4” (20mm)
- wax seal charm metal - sterling silver (.925 silver)
- photographed with an old US dime for scale
- chain - a sterling silver cable chain with a spring ring clasp.
- select the necklace chain length or just the charm at checkout.
Impressed with history!
*The Legend of Saint Catherine... Saint Catherine of the wheel is also remembered as Saint Catherine of Alexandria and The Great Martyr Saint Catherine and she was one of the most important Saints in the religious culture of the late Middle Ages. She was a beautiful princess and extremely intelligent... well-versed in all the arts and sciences, and in philosophy. At age 14 she became a Christian and then converted hundreds of people to Christianity.
After winning her debate with Roman Emperor Maxentius about his moral error in persecuting Christians for not worshipping idols, she convinced his best pagan philosophers and orators to convert to Christianity. For this, he executed them and imprisoned and tortured her. When she still would not yield her beliefs, the Emperor proposed marriage and when she refused this, because she claimed her spouse was Jesus Christ, he was furious and condemned Catherine to death on the spiked breaking wheel... an instrument of torture. In answer to Catherine's prayer, the wheel was miraculously destroyed and so Emperor Maxentius had her beheaded.