Fenomena Di Zaman Silam: Kutip Kepala Sendiri Setelah Dipancung #Cephalophore

Mahathirina

A cephalophore (Greek for 'head-carrier') is a saint who is generally depicted carrying his severed head.  In Christian art, this was usually meant to signify that the subject in question had been martyred by beheading.  Associated legends often tell of the saints standing and carrying their heads after the beheading.



Saint Denis is the most famous cephalophore in Christian history, with a popular story claiming that the decapitated bishop picked up his head and walked several miles while preaching a sermon on repentance.  He is venerated in the Catholic Church as a patron saint of both France and Paris.  A chapel was raised at the site of his burial which was later expanded into an abbey and basilica, around which grew up the French city of Saint-Denis, now a suburb of Paris.

Although Denis is the best known of the saintly head-carriers, there were many others.


John the Baptist, the best-known beheaded saint, is not considered a cephalophore, since he did not hold his head in his hands.

Justus of Beauvais was only nine years old when he was executed.  After he was beheaded, Justus' body then picked up the severed head and continued to speak.  Justus is thus one of the legendary cephalophores.  This legend was elaborated in subsequent centuries and stated that the headless boy even managed to convert pagan onlookers.