Now this really got my creative juices flowing.
If you look closely, you'll see that there's a skull (minus it's lower jaw.)
The whole thing blackened with age and beautifully mounted with sheet gold, gem stones and set on a silver platter.
Here's the story ....
The relic is reported as being the skull of Saint John the Baptist , (beheaded by King Herod at the request of Salome.)
Legend states that it was "recovered" by the Knights Templar from the Holy land, brought back to France and delivered into the care of Notre Dame Cathedral in Amiens, in the mid 1200's, where it resides to this day.
I imagine, not all of this story can be substantiated ....nonetheless... a tantalizing story and a beautiful (if somewhat macabre) holy relic.
It is such a wonderful relic with gorgeous Gothic embellishments. If only it could speak.....[but with the lower mandible missing it would be a bit difficult]!
ReplyDeleteA very interesting and quite haunting post. Thank you so very much for sharing this with us all.