St. Praxedes
Modern
Church
of St. Praxedes, Rome
The red object in St. Praxedes' hand is a sponge which she is said to
have used to gather the blood of martyrs for preservation in a large
vessel or a well. In the church's 9th century mosaics, St. Praxedes'
status as martyr is symbolized by a crown rather than a palm branch,
and this iconography is followed in this case by means of the crown
that hangs over the saint's head.
More of St. Praxedes
Photographed at the
site by Richard Stracke