Bringing the Holy Land Home: The Crusades, Chertsey Abbey, and the Reconstruction of a Medieval Masterpiece Main Menu Explore All Objects by Location Explore All Objects by Material Explore all objects at the College of the Holy Cross All Objects

Man Subduing Lion/"Hero and Lion" Silk (DO BZ.1934.1)

39447
By Christopher Smith '22
 



The well-known strength of lions signifies that this man – who dominates lions – must be even stronger. He is dressed in a classical short toga and sandals. His long hair and action of tearing open the lion's jaws suggest that he represents Samson, a religious hero from the Hebrew Bible (Christian Old Testament). People from Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions appreciated Samson, since the text that Christians call the Old Testament is foundational for all three religions. The weft-faced technique (weaving crosswise threads) reached the eastern Mediterranean from China via the silk roads. This textile could have served as a curtain or hanging in a home of a wealthy person or in a church, or as part of a garment worn at ceremonies. The English king Henry III, the probable patron of the Chertsey tiles, owned a textile showing an image of Samson similar to this one.

This page has paths:

  1. Textiles Brooke Hendershott
  2. All Objects Brooke Hendershott

Contents of this path:

  1. What is this?
  2. When was this made?
  3. Why was this made, and how was it used?
  4. How was this made?
  5. Who made this?
  6. Where was this produced?
  7. Where did this go?
  8. What does this tell us about the Crusades?
  9. Sources and further reading

This page has tags:

  1. All Objects Brooke Hendershott
  2. Explore All Objects by Location Brooke Hendershott
  3. Textiles Brooke Hendershott

This page references: