Why is Saint Catherine the patron of Philosophers, Theologians and Royal women?
And How Saint Catherine is represented in Christian Art It is helpful to be able to recognise Saint Catherine in paintings, stained glass windows, illuminated manuscripts, architecture and other forms of Christian art. The artistic representations reflect the life or death of saints, or an aspect of life with which the person is most closely associated. Her principal symbol is the spiked wheel, which has become known as the Catherine wheel. Saint Catherine is also represented in Christian Art with a wheel. The wheel is generally broken, because, after she was bound upon it, by the intervention of Heaven it was shattered, and the flying fragments dealt death to her executioners. Under her feet is seen the turbaned head of the tyrant Maximinus, symbolical of the triumph of Christianity over the Infidel. Instead of the sword, the actual instrument of her martyrdom, a book is placed in her hand, in token of her learning. The crown upon her head bespeaks her royal dignity. As a noble’s daug
