No not madness when I am supposed to be writing of 'E' and start with Wuffing, but what a word I just could not leave it and it is of course Anglo-Saxon. And one of its Kings was Saint Edmund died 870. His body said to lie at Bury Abbey, which was founded by an Anglican martyr king Sigeberht. Edmund was done to death in a pretty miserable way by the Danes which you can see in the mural above, which just happens to be in Pickering church North Yorkshire. Along with several other wall paintings. I think they had been covered over with white wash but were restored. The martyrdom of Saint Catherine painting (think Catherine wheel fireworks and flinch) is also there.
Edmund's expression seems to say 'oh dear' but the cruelty is there to be seen. You can find the original photo here, pretty bad photos but I have seemed to have cleaned the above photo on this computer. Technology always on the move to be better!
Of course 'E' encompasses the Easter debacle, a movable date today between March 22 and April 25. But was debated and strongly fought over by the Roman and Celtic church.
It must have been very difficult getting life insurance if you were in the business of being a saint. As I remember the story, having shot Edmund full of arrows, they then cut off his head - "That'll teach him!".
ReplyDeleteHopefully he was dead when they cut off his head John. Perhaps martyrdom was an achievement in being a saint. The first Celtic saints seem to have to do with the wealthy class, and then the later Catholic saints, nominated after their death, achieved sainthood without knowledge.
DeleteEdmund seems to have suffered the same fate as Sebastian.
ReplyDeleteI suppose so, shot by arrows, though Sebastian lived through one attack only to be clubbed to death in another. You had to pay a price for martyrdom.
DeleteWhat's he doing up there in Yorkshire!
ReplyDeleteHe's here in Bury St Edmunds not that other Bury in Lancashire - in case anyone gets confused
Don't be so possessive Sue ;) He is allowed to take a break from fighting. I actually don't know his history, but considering Yorkshire had plenty of the North men perhaps his story is remembered.
ReplyDeleteTorture was so cruel. Then and now.
ReplyDeleteIt is terrible Joanne and that we still practise it.
DeleteI have no aspirations to sainthood. Zero. In fact, I feel like I need to go out and do something public and awful to insure that I am out of the running.
ReplyDeleteI think a present day saint has to be dead as well before she gets her sainthood Debby. You don't qualify yet!
DeleteI saw the photo and knew it was Pickering - had a day out there when we were holidaying in Scarborough - Keith had the short straw and took the kids to Flamingoland I think it was. Good little museum too - it got flooded once and the stuffed carthorse floated down the street!
ReplyDeleteBeing shot full of arrows not a good way to go - poor Edmund. I am guessing the Danes weren't strong on empathy . . .
I think the Vikings take the prize for cruelty. Never went to Flamingoland but the bus from York would always go down the lane to the place.
ReplyDelete