HAD-638P Christian Reliquaries: Venerate the Dead
3 Credits
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HAD-638P-01
Tuesday
9:00 am â 11:50 am
Main Building, 214
What are relics and how did Christians come to hold them as sacred? This seminar delves into relic veneration and reliquary use in Europe from the beginnings of the cult of relics in late antiquity and the Middle Ages. We investigate the power of relics and how their veneration developed alongside that of Christian saints. We explore the purpose of reliquaries, and the varied ways they reveal, conceal and protect sacred contents. We also consider issues surrounding the display of such holy objects in museums and how these objects continue to exert influence on both artists and audiences today.