Reliquary bust of Saint Apollonia

Abstract

This reliquary bust is part of a group of thirteen reliquaries that were enshrined in a cabinet in an unknown church, and are now located in the Museo Diocesano of Teggiano. Made of painted wood, the reliquary bust depicts Saint Apollonia, the patron saint of dentists. Saint Apollonia is dressed in a red habit with gold ornate patterns, and a gold mantle that drapes across her left arm. She holds a tong with a tooth. At the center of the sculpture’s chest is a cavity which would have contained a relic. Relics are bodily fragments of the saint, clothing, or objects touched by the saint. 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 her 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? Photograph(s) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.