This interesting medieval pilgrim badge is a faithful replica of a historical artifact from the 15th century.
The badge depicts a cat holding a mouse in its mouth. Below the scene is a ribbon bearing the Latin inscription “Visus Mus, ” which means “Have you seen a mouse?”
The original of this pilgrim badge is now housed in the collections of the British Museum. On the back is a sturdy pin that allows the badge to be securely attached to clothing.
Cats in the Middle Ages
In the Middle Ages, cats did not always have a good reputation. For example, in the 13th century, the Franciscan preacher Berthold of Regensburg claimed in his sermons that a cat’s breath spread the plague. Cats were also sometimes accused of heresy and persecuted for it.
The persecution of cats reached its peak in the late Middle Ages in 1484 following the issuance of Pope Innocent VIII’s papal bull *Summis desiderantes affectibus*, which is associated with the period of the witch hunts. Amid the atmosphere of the Inquisition at that time, thousands of cats were killed by fire, sword, and other means.
- Size: 4 x 2.5 cm
- Material: bronze
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