St.
Catherine's Wheel
12th-13th century
Fresco
Cathedral
of Notre Dame, Le Puy, France
We are seeing the moment when, in the words of the Golden Legend, "an
angel of the Lord struck that engine such a blow that it was shattered
and four thousand pagans were killed." Here the angel is at 10
o'clock on the wheel (see detail),
striking it with his sword.
The hapless pagans lie prostrate at 7 o'clock (see detail) and 5
o'clock.
On the left the cruel emperor (Maxentius in the legend but labeled
"Cesar Imperator" here) watches with interest (see detail).
St. Catherine's placement with respect to the wheel (see detail)
is as problematic here as in most images of the event.
More of St. Catherine
Photographed at the
site by Richard Stracke