Margaret of Antioch, Saint
- Margaret of Antioch, Saint
St. Margaret was the daughter of a pagan priest from Antioch who banished her when she converted to Christianity. Margaret went to the countryside where she became a shepherdess and there she was able to practice her faith freely. She rejected the advances of Governor Olybrius who, in retaliation, ordered her torture and imprisonment. While captive, the devil appeared to her in the form of a dragon and swallowed her. Margaret carved her way out of the belly of the beast with a small crucifix she always carried with her. The following day, attempts were made to end her life by fire and drowning, but both efforts were futile as she miraculously emerged unscathed from the flames and water. The thousands of individuals who witnessed the event were immediately converted and executed. Margaret herself was finally beheaded. Because she carved her way out of the dragon's belly, Margaret is the patron saint of childbirth. She is included in that capacity on the bedpost in Jan van Eyck's
Arnolfini Wedding Portrait (1434; London, National Gallery). In Francisco de Zurbarán's depiction of the saint (1634; London, National Gallery), she stands alongside the dragon, her dress and hat that of a shepherdess. She is also included in Friedrich Herlin's
Family Altarpiece (1488; Nördlingen, Städtisches Museum) where she presents female donors to the Virgin and Child.
Historical dictionary of Renaissance art.
Lilian H. Zirpolo.
2008.
Look at other dictionaries:
Margaret of Antioch, Saint — or Saint Marina flourished 3rd or 4th century, Antioch, Syria; Eastern feast day July 13; Western feast day July 20 Early Christian martyr. Tradition held that she was a virgin during the reign of Diocletian. When she refused to marry the Roman… … Universalium
Pelagia Of Antioch, Saint — ▪ Christian saint died c. 311, Antioch, Syria; feast day June 9 15 year old Christian virgin who, probably during the persecution of Christians by the Roman emperor Diocletian, threw herself from a housetop to save her chastity and died… … Universalium
Margaret (name) — Margaret Margaret the Virgin is one of many saints named Margaret. Gender female Origin Word/Na … Wikipedia
Saint — 1347 80, Italian ascetic and mystic. died A.D. 731, pope 715 731. died A.D. 741, pope 731 741. died A.D. 352, Italian ecclesiastic: pope 337 352. died A.D. 683, Sicilian ecclesiastic: pope 682 683. died A.D. 855, Italian ecclesiastic: pope 847… … Universalium
saint — saintless, adj. /saynt/, n. 1. any of certain persons of exceptional holiness of life, formally recognized as such by the Christian Church, esp. by canonization. 2. a person of great holiness, virtue, or benevolence. 3. a founder, sponsor, or… … Universalium
Margaret — /mahr geuh rit, grit/, n. a female given name: from a Greek word meaning pearl. * * * (as used in expressions) Frances Margaret Anderson Edith Margaret Emily Ashcroft Atwood Margaret Eleanor Bourke White Margaret Brent Margaret Margaret Tobin… … Universalium
Saint George and the Dragon — The episode of Saint George and the Dragon appended to the hagiography of Saint George was Eastern in origin, [Robertson, The Medieval Saints Lives (pp 51 52) suggested that the dragon motif was transferred to the George legend from that of his… … Wikipedia
Saint Marina — may refer to: Saint Margaret of Antioch, also known as Saint Margaret the Virgin, Saint Marina the Martyr or Agia Marina by the Orthodox Church Saint Marina of Aguas Santas (119 139), virgin and martyr of Balcagia (current Baiona, Spain) Saint… … Wikipedia
Margaret the Virgin — Not to be confused with Saint Margaret of Scotland, Saint Margaret of England, Saint Margaret of Hungary, or Saint Margaret of Cortona. Saint Margaret Saint Margaret the Virgin and the dragon Martyr and Virg … Wikipedia
Saint Margaret of Hungary — Not to be confused with Margaret of Hungary. Saint Margaret of Hungary Molnár József s The Death of Saint Margaret Born January 27, 1242 Klis Fortress … Wikipedia
