Early Christian Martyrs in Art Photos

Early Christians were persecuted and martyred, reaching a height (c303-312) under directions of Roman leaders Diocletian & Galerius. During the early years all the martyred were automatically named as saints. Their visual attributes usually relate to their method of martyrdom or a miracle they facilitated. The official killing of Christians stopped when Emperor Constantine recognized Christianity in the Edict of Milan in 313.

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St Stephen (martyred c34) Attrib. 3 stones	First Christian martyr. As a deacon appointed by the Apostles, he denounced Jewish authorities & was stoned to death.
St Cecilia (martyred c230) Attrib. hand organ - patron saint of music.	Arrested for burying martyred Christians.
St Sebastian (martyred 3rd C) Attrib. pierced by arrows.	An officer in Roman army, his Christianity was discovered & he was to be killed by arrows. Left for dead, he recovered, but was later beaten to death. upon orders of Emperor Diocletian.
St Christopher (died c251) Attrib. Christ Child on shoulder of giant crossing torrent.	Giant who carried travelers across river. When he carried Christ Child, he also bore the weight of the world resting on Christ's shoulders.
St Lawrence (martyred 258) Attrib. grid-iron / grill.	As Emperor persecuted Christians, Lawrence sold church holdings & gave money to poor, not to Rome. In retaliation, Lawrence was roasted on a red-hot grill.
St Denis (martyred 258) Attrib. carrying his severed head.	First Bishop of Paris, beheaded & carried his own head to north end of Paris.
St Agatha (martyred 251) Attrib. breasts on plate & pincers.	Venerated for steadfast faith despite torture while resisting tyrant's attempt to force her to work in brothel.
St Agnes (martyred 304) Attrib. lamb	Behead for refusal to give up faith & purity when sent to brothel.
St Barbara (4th C?) Attrib. tower	Tortured & imprisoned in a tower by her father for refusal give up purity to marry.
St Catherine of Alexandria (martyred c310) Attrib. Broken torture wheel with spikes, sword.	Condemned by Emperor Maxentius to die on spiked wheel after she denounced him for persecution of Christians, but the wheel miraculously broke. She was beheaded instead.
St Dorothy (martyred c303) Attrib. basket of flowers & fruit.	Refused to worship Roman gods. Before execution lawyer mocked her to send fruit from her garden of heaven. Before execution a basket of fruit & roses appeared, which made lawyer convert.
St Eulalia (martyred c303) Attrib. X-shaped cross; stake & dove.	Criticized Roman governor in Spain for persecution of Christians & was herself crucified.
St Lucy (martyred 304) Attrib. sword on neck, eyes on plate, candle.	Vowing to live as a chaste Christian, she was turned in by man to whom she had been promised. She miraculously escaped several executions.
St Margaret (unkonwn) Attrib. dragon at her feet.	In prison as a Christian, swallowed by devil in dragon-form, but disgorged her because of her cross. She survived fire & drowning, but was beheaded.
Sts Cosmas and Damian (martyred c303) Attrib. box or vials of ointment.	Twin brother medical doctors who as Christians were tortured & beheaded and credited with miracle cures after death.
St Florian (martyred c304) Attrib. building on fire.	Roman officer who was Christian, turned himself in to face execution by drowning. Invoked to keep buildings from fire.
St George (martyred c303) Attrib. Armoured knight slaying dragon.	Fought in Palestine, he became symbol of knighthood. Said to have rescued princess from dragon.


See Also:	Index of Symbols with which to Identify Saints Christian Art Story of Christ in Art Christian Saints in Art Christian Apostles & Disciples in Art Christian Evangelists in Art Christian Church Fathers & Thinkers in Art Later Christian Saints in Art