According to legend, Barbara was the daughter of a rich pagan named Dioscorus, who guarded her by keeping her locked up in a tower. Having secretly become a Christian, her father drew his sword to kill her, but her prayers created an opening in the tower wall and she was miraculously transported to a mountain gorge. Found and dragged before the prefect of the province, Barbara was cruelly tortured but held true to her faith. During the night, miracles occurred and every morning her wounds were healed. Torches that were to be used to burn her went out as soon as they came near her. Finally she was condemned to death by beheading. Her father carried out the death-sentence, but on the way home he was struck by lightning and his body was consumed by flame. Barbara was buried by a Christian, and her tomb became the site of miracles.
A popular medieval saint, her story was told in great detail in Jacobus de Voragine’s Legenda aurea (1255–66; Golden Legend, 1483). Saint Barbara is the patron saint of firefighters, soldiers, prisoners, stone masons, military engineers, miners, builders and mathematicians. Since her killers were struck down by lightning, she is often called on for protection from lightning and violent and unpredictable death. St. Barbara is often depicted with St. Catherine flanking the Virgin Mary. Her feast day was December 4th until it was struck from the official Church calendar in 1969.
Reproduction; badge depicts the saint holding the tower in which she was imprisoned and the palm frond of sainthood.
Originals can be found in the van Beuningen collection in Rotterdam (inv. 1524, inv. 1668, 1450-1500); also an original found on the Isle of Wight dated 1400-1500.
Medieval pin back
Approx 4cm x 2.5cm
Individually hand cast in lead free pewter.
This product was added to our catalog on Friday 12 July, 2013.
