Arma Christi ("weapons of Christ"), or the Instruments of the Passion, are the objects associated with the Passion of Jesus Christ in Christian symbolism and art. They are seen as arms in the sense of heraldry, and also as the weapons Christ used to achieve his conquest over Satan. There is a group, at a maximum of about 20 items, which are frequently used in Christian art, especially in the Late Middle Ages. Typically they surround either a cross or a figure of Christ of the Man of Sorrows type, either placed around the composition, or held by angels.
The instruments of the Passion. Left to right: the cross of the penitent thief Dismas, ladder, sponge on reed, hammer, angels, Cross of Christ, cock, star, pincers, ladder, spear, cross of the wicked thief Gestas, and two hyssop plants growing from the ground (église Saint-Pierre de Collonges-la-rouge).
The instruments of the Passion (cont). Left to right: chalice, torch, lantern, sword, flagellum, pillar of flagellation, Veronica's veil, 30 pieces of silver, dice, reed sceptre, hand which struck Christ, torch, pitcher of gall and vinegar.
The prime member, the Cross, had been introduced to Christian art in the 4th century as the crux invicta, a symbol of victory. As a group they have a long tradition in iconography, dating back to the 9th century; the Utrecht Psalter of 830 is an example, though the only one from the Early Middle Ages known to Gertrud Schiller. This reflected an increase in theological interest in the sufferings of Christ at the time.[1] The Middle English poem Arma Christi, which appeared before the end of the 14th century, exists in fifteen manuscripts, attesting to its popularity, of which seven are engrossed in highly unusual scroll form, designed to be displayed in church as a pictorial aid to public devotion; manuscripts of Arma Christi are generally accompanied by illustrations of the instruments, viewing of which, according to the texts, granted indulgence of a certain number of days in Purgatory to come.[2]
Relics of the most important items had a long history, dating back to the Empress Helena's discovery of the True Cross in the early 4th century. Relics claiming to be the Holy Lance, Holy Sponge, Holy Chalice and nails from the cross were all venerated well before 1000, and were to proliferate in later centuries. There was a wave of new relics in the West at the time of the Crusades, and a further wave as the Instruments became featured more prominently in devotional literature and practices in the 14th century.[3]
In art the Instruments either surrounded an image of Christ in andachtsbilder subjects such as the Man of Sorrows, or might appear by themselves - often the image of Christ's face on the Veil of Veronica was the focal point of the image. In both cases the purpose of the representations was to symbolize the sufferings of Christ during his Passion. They had the practical advantage for less accomplished artists of being much easier to represent than human figures, and were no doubt often treated as a subject an apprentice could be left to do. Possibly the earliest representation of the isolated instruments laid out across a space is in a drawing in a German manuscript of about 1175, where they are to one side of a Christ in Majesty.[4] In devotional books they were sometimes, by the Late Middle Ages, shown one at a time, accompanying one of the many texts that devoted meditations in turn to the episodes in which each had been used, before culminating in a figure subject with Jesus.[5] Miniature versions of the objects were attached to rosaries and crucifixes, and used as aids to contemplation of the suffering of Christ.
The Instruments
Depictions of the Instruments of the Passion may include many combinations of those following (though the cross of Jesus is almost always represented). A primary group of the most frequently used instruments can be distinguished:
The Cross on which Jesus was crucified (True Cross), either depicted alone or with the crosses of the two thieves
The sword used by Peter to cut off the ear of the High Priest's servant. Sometimes a human ear is also represented.
Sometimes the heads or hands of figures from the Passion are shown, including Judas, Caiaphas, or the man who mocked Christ spitting in Christ's face. The washing hands of Pontius Pilate may be shown. The Lorenzo Monaco painting below has several such images.
The trumpet played for mocking Christ on the Way to Calvary.[6]
Other contexts
The principal group of the Instruments appear in other contexts as well. The lance and sponge on a stick are held as though they are standards or weapons by the archangels flanking the throne of Christ in a 6th-century mosaic from Ravenna (now Belin), and are often shown in this way thereafter, especially in scenes of the Last Judgement. In Eastern Orthodox art they are often on or around the Hetoimasia or "empty throne" of judgement.[7] The Crown of Thorns sometimes hangs alone on the cross; it has been suggested that the Celtic cross originated from this motif. The minor Instruments generally did not developed a sufficient ability to be recognised and understood in this way, and appear only in groups.
^Ballester, Jordi, "Trumpets, Heralds and Minstrels: Their Relation to the Image of Power and Representation in the Fourteenth- and Fifteenth-Century Catalano-Aragonese Painting", Music in Art: International Journal for Music Iconography (2018) 43/1–2, 5–19.
Schiller, Gertrud, Iconography of Christian Art, Vol. II, 1972 (English trans from German), Lund Humphries, London, ISBN0-85331-324-5
Further reading
Cooper, Lisa H.; Denny-Brown, Andrea, eds. (24 January 2014). The Arma Christi in Medieval and Early Modern Material Culture. Farnham: Ashgate. ISBN978-1-40945-676-6.
External links
April 29, 2023
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Arma Christi weapons of Christ or the Instruments of the Passion are the objects associated with the Passion of Jesus Christ in Christian symbolism and art They are seen as arms in the sense of heraldry and also as the weapons Christ used to achieve his conquest over Satan There is a group at a maximum of about 20 items which are frequently used in Christian art especially in the Late Middle Ages Typically they surround either a cross or a figure of Christ of the Man of Sorrows type either placed around the composition or held by angels Christ as Man of Sorrows between Four Angels engraving by Master E S c 1460 The instruments of the Passion Left to right the cross of the penitent thief Dismas ladder sponge on reed hammer angels Cross of Christ cock star pincers ladder spear cross of the wicked thief Gestas and two hyssop plants growing from the ground eglise Saint Pierre de Collonges la rouge The instruments of the Passion cont Left to right chalice torch lantern sword flagellum pillar of flagellation Veronica s veil 30 pieces of silver dice reed sceptre hand which struck Christ torch pitcher of gall and vinegar Contents 1 History 2 The Instruments 3 Other contexts 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksHistory EditThe prime member the Cross had been introduced to Christian art in the 4th century as the crux invicta a symbol of victory As a group they have a long tradition in iconography dating back to the 9th century the Utrecht Psalter of 830 is an example though the only one from the Early Middle Ages known to Gertrud Schiller This reflected an increase in theological interest in the sufferings of Christ at the time 1 The Middle English poem Arma Christi which appeared before the end of the 14th century exists in fifteen manuscripts attesting to its popularity of which seven are engrossed in highly unusual scroll form designed to be displayed in church as a pictorial aid to public devotion manuscripts of Arma Christi are generally accompanied by illustrations of the instruments viewing of which according to the texts granted indulgence of a certain number of days in Purgatory to come 2 Relics of the most important items had a long history dating back to the Empress Helena s discovery of the True Cross in the early 4th century Relics claiming to be the Holy Lance Holy Sponge Holy Chalice and nails from the cross were all venerated well before 1000 and were to proliferate in later centuries There was a wave of new relics in the West at the time of the Crusades and a further wave as the Instruments became featured more prominently in devotional literature and practices in the 14th century 3 In art the Instruments either surrounded an image of Christ in andachtsbilder subjects such as the Man of Sorrows or might appear by themselves often the image of Christ s face on the Veil of Veronica was the focal point of the image In both cases the purpose of the representations was to symbolize the sufferings of Christ during his Passion They had the practical advantage for less accomplished artists of being much easier to represent than human figures and were no doubt often treated as a subject an apprentice could be left to do Possibly the earliest representation of the isolated instruments laid out across a space is in a drawing in a German manuscript of about 1175 where they are to one side of a Christ in Majesty 4 In devotional books they were sometimes by the Late Middle Ages shown one at a time accompanying one of the many texts that devoted meditations in turn to the episodes in which each had been used before culminating in a figure subject with Jesus 5 Miniature versions of the objects were attached to rosaries and crucifixes and used as aids to contemplation of the suffering of Christ The Instruments EditDepictions of the Instruments of the Passion may include many combinations of those following though the cross of Jesus is almost always represented A primary group of the most frequently used instruments can be distinguished The Cross on which Jesus was crucified True Cross either depicted alone or with the crosses of the two thieves The Crown of Thorns The pillar or column where Jesus was whipped in the Flagellation of Christ The whip s in Germany often birches used for the 39 lashes The Holy Sponge set on a reed with which gall and vinegar were offered to Jesus The Holy Lance with which a Roman soldier inflicted the final of the Five Wounds in his side The Nails inflicting four wounds on the hands and feet The Veil of VeronicaOther common ones are The reed which was placed in Jesus hand as a sceptre in mockery The purple robe of mockery The Titulus Crucis attached to the Cross It may be inscribed in Latin INRI Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum Greek Hebrew or some other language The Holy Grail the chalice used by Jesus at The Last Supper and which some traditions say Joseph of Arimathea used to catch his blood at the crucifixion The Seamless robe of Jesus The dice with which the soldiers cast lots for Christ s seamless robe The rooster cock that crowed after Peter s third denial of Jesus The vessel used to hold the gall and vinegar The ladder used for the Deposition i e the removal of Christ s body from the cross for burial The ropes used for the Raising of the Cross The hammer used to drive the nails into Jesus hands and feet The pincers used to remove the nails The vessel of myrrh used to anoint the body of Jesus either by Joseph of Arimathea or by the Myrrhbearers The shroud used to wrap the body of Jesus before burial The sun and moon representing the eclipse which occurred during the Passion Thirty pieces of silver or a money bag the price of Judas betrayal A spitting face indicating the mockery of Jesus The hand which slapped Jesus face The chains or cords which bound Jesus overnight in prison The lantern or torches used by the arresting soldiers at the time of the betrayal as well as their swords and staves The sword used by Peter to cut off the ear of the High Priest s servant Sometimes a human ear is also represented Sometimes the heads or hands of figures from the Passion are shown including Judas Caiaphas or the man who mocked Christ spitting in Christ s face The washing hands of Pontius Pilate may be shown The Lorenzo Monaco painting below has several such images The trumpet played for mocking Christ on the Way to Calvary 6 Other contexts EditThe principal group of the Instruments appear in other contexts as well The lance and sponge on a stick are held as though they are standards or weapons by the archangels flanking the throne of Christ in a 6th century mosaic from Ravenna now Belin and are often shown in this way thereafter especially in scenes of the Last Judgement In Eastern Orthodox art they are often on or around the Hetoimasia or empty throne of judgement 7 The Crown of Thorns sometimes hangs alone on the cross it has been suggested that the Celtic cross originated from this motif The minor Instruments generally did not developed a sufficient ability to be recognised and understood in this way and appear only in groups Lorenzo Monaco 1404 Votive panel Wroclaw 1443 Hans Memling The Man of Sorrows in the arms of the Virgin 1470s A full coat of arms of Christ in the Wernigerode Armorial Southern Germany c 1490 shown alongside the coat of arms of God St Wendelin Bremenried Weiler Simmerberg Bavaria 18th century 19th century Russian icon using the style of the West Carried by angels in a Triumph of the Christ Child by Ambrosius Francken I 1605 10 Wayside cross with the Arma Christi near Stammham EichstattSee also Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Arma Christi Attributed arms Pont Sant Angelo Relics associated with Jesus Scutum Fidei the medieval heraldic arms of the Trinity Great SchemaNotes Edit Schiller 184 185 Rossell Hope Robbins The Arma Christi Rolls The Modern Language Review 34 3 July 1939 415 421 Schiller 189 191 Schiller 187 Schiller 192 3 Ballester Jordi Trumpets Heralds and Minstrels Their Relation to the Image of Power and Representation in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Century Catalano Aragonese Painting Music in Art International Journal for Music Iconography 2018 43 1 2 5 19 Schiller 186 187References EditSchiller Gertrud Iconography of Christian Art Vol II 1972 English trans from German Lund Humphries London ISBN 0 85331 324 5Further reading EditCooper Lisa H Denny Brown Andrea eds 24 January 2014 The Arma Christi in Medieval and Early Modern Material Culture Farnham Ashgate ISBN 978 1 40945 676 6 External links EditWeapons of Christ Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Arma Christi amp oldid 1147062213, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
