A Veszprém Megyei Múzeumok Közleményei 24. (Veszprém, 2006)

Rainer Pál–S. Lackovits Emőke: Egy címerekkel díszített XVII. századi faládika

lots (John 19:24). 16. The three nails, which were used to nail the limbs of Jesus to the cross. They are the symbols of torture. On the helmet on the right above the coat of arms, the sponge on the pole reminds us to the Saviour thirsting on the cross. The spear is the reminder to soldier, Longinus, who opened the side of Christ, and who became the follower of Jesus. In the 16

th century a separate cult came about in connection with Longinus and the Holy Spear, especially in German-speaking lands. On the helmet on the left, there is a whip, a lash and fasces. They represent torture. Different types of depictions are widely-known all around Europe. On the helmet in the middle, we can find the three Easter flags with crosses. They mean the resurrected and victorious Christ as the culmination of the story of Salvation. In the depiction of blazons the instrument of the Passion take up an important position among the symbols. The armours of Christ, the Arma Christi, which are the symbols of victory and the weapons of the struggle against sin and death. Its cult flourished in the Middle Ages, and can be found in the artistic works of the whole Christian world, and also in the material culture of the religion of the people. It is rather rich in the German-speaking world. In the different and varied types of depictions and representations, several kinds of prayers were attached to them, and they also had their own celebrations. Not only the monastic orders like the Franciscans, the Cistercians and the Jesuits played a great role in spreading and repeatedly flourishing the cult, but also other pious groups throughout Europe. In addition, the wars and epidemics of the seventeenth century had a significant role. The literary sources of the respect for the Arma Christi are mainly found in revelation literature (Magdalena Bautler, Saint Mary Magdalen of Pazzi, Veronika Giuliani). The cult lived on in prayers and the depictions popular piety. As it first appeared in the Middle Ages and flourished again, and dealt with the instruments of the Passion, the different types of representations (painting and writing) of the life and death of Jesus on this earth, this richness can explain that the symbols of the history of Salvation appeared on the lid of the casket which remained empty due to unexpected circumstances (the death of the elector of Trier). 179