Reliquary bust of Saint Cosmas

Abstract

Created in the 17th century, this reliquary bust depicts Saint Cosmas, a 3rd-century martyr. In Christian visual culture, Saint Cosmas is often depicted alongside his twin brother, Saint Damian. The brothers practiced medicine and became celebrated doctors in Ægea, near the Gulf of Iskenderun. According to Gabriel Meier, the saints were captured by the prefect, Lysias, tortured, and later beheaded. However, they did not succumb to cruel treatment by their tormentors. They were later beheaded. The reliquary bust shows Saint Cosmas enshrined behind a protective glass, alone in a niche; the half-length statue has a cavity at the center of its chest, which would have contained a relic. Relics are bodily fragments of saints or other objects associated with the holy. Relics have been venerated and encased in elaborate reliquaries since the early Middle Ages. It is common for early medieval reliquaries to take the shape of box-like containers. This reliquary is a lifelike bust of the saint with their bones on display. The saint appears to be physically present. A question arises: should the relic or the image of the saint be revered by the faithful? The reliquary busts are located in the Museo d’Arte Sacra Don Clemente Confalone. Photograph(s) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.