Medieval pilgrim pendant - Phallus and ship, 14th century

Medieval pilgrim badge pendant "Ship with a phallus"

This medieval pendant in the shape of a ship with a halyard was created from a historical model from 1350 to 1425 AD and is now in the Langbroek Collection, Van Breuningen.

The pilgrim badge depicts a ship with birds in the form of penises on the rigging, driven by sailors with the form of halyards. It is a satire of the popular Canterbury pilgrim badge, depicting the return of St T Becket from exile in England. St. Thomas Becket, as he is known, was one of the most revered figures in medieval England.

Becket gained great popularity among the people immediately after his assassination by the knights of King Henry II. The murder caused considerable outrage and Becket was soon canonized as a holy martyr.

As the cult of St Thomas Becket spread, many pilgrim badges were created for those who visited the sacred sites associated with his life.

The medieval pendant has an eyelet on the back for attaching to clothing or wearing around the neck as a pendant. The badge can also be easily sewn onto a garment through several holes. A 1 m long black leather strap is included.

• The medieval ship with halyard measures 2,7 x 2,7 cm.

The phallus boat is a parody of a Christian pilgrim symbol, ironically depicting a story from the life of St Thomas who returns to England on a boat. In this way, the creator of the ship with the halyard was criticizing the hypocrisy of his medieval contemporaries, while referring to the motif of the 'ship of fools', which was widespread in the medieval period.

St Thomas Becket, also known as St Thomas of Canterbury, was murdered in 1170 AD. He was originally a close friend of King Henry II, but later, as archbishop, became involved in a protracted dispute with the royal family over the division of power between the Church and the monarchy.

Becket was eventually murdered at the altar in Canterbury Cathedral by King Henry II's knights, who allegedly misunderstood the king's angry statement. Only three years after the crime, Becket was canonized.
Many European churches are dedicated to St. Thomas or bear his name, and his life has been adapted in various historical novels and plays.

His popularity made Canterbury one of the greatest pilgrimage centres of medieval Europe, and miracles were often attributed to St Thomas because of his popularity among pilgrims.

Subsequently, St Thomas became the patron saint of the English monarchy, particularly in relation to their ambitions in France. In 1415, after the Battle of Azincourt, Henry V himself visited Canterbury Cathedral to thank St Thomas Becket for his war victory.