Today’s Chaste Yet Truly Morbid Fact!
Let’s have another jolly story of Christian Martyrdom from the classic of the genre, Fox’s Book of Martyrs (1848). This incident allegedly occurred during the Seventh Persecution, under Decius in A. D. 249:
Agatha, a Sicilian lady, was not more remarkable for her personal and acquired endowments, than her piety: her beauty was such, that Quintian, governor of Sicily, became enamoured of her, and made many attempts upon her chastity without success.
In order to gratify his passions with the greater conveniency, he put the virtuous lady into the hands of Aphrodica, a very infamous and licentious woman. This wretch tried every artifice to win her to the desired prostitution; but found all her efforts were vain; for her chastity was impregnable, and she well knew that virtue alone could procure true happiness. Aphrodica acquainted Quintian with the inefficacy of her endeavours, who, enraged to be foiled in his designs, changed his lust into resentment. On her confessing that she was a christian, he determined to gratify his revenge, as he could not his passion. Pursuant to his orders, she was scourged, burnt with red-hot irons, and torn with sharp hooks. Having borne these torments with admirable fortitude, she was next laid naked upon live coals, intermingled with glass, and then being carried back to prison, she there expired on the 5th of Feb. 251.
Culled from: Fox’s Book of Martyrs
Generously suggested by: Louise
The Art of St. Agatha
Here we have a number of artistic depictions of the sufferings of Agatha. They seem to be very obsessed with nipple torture. Poor Agatha.
“Martyrdom of St. Agatha” by Sebastiano Del Piombo
“The Martyrdom of St. Agatha – Having Her Breast Cut Off”
Engraving made by Diana Scultori, After Ippolito Costa, Italy, 1577.
“Saint Peter Healing Saint Agatha” by Giovanni Lanfranco
Not sure who the artist is here