Monreale cathedral, apse mosaics, St. Silvester and St. Thomas Becket of Canterbury
St. Silvester and St. Thomas of Canterbury have a prominent position in Monreale cathedral: they stand in the lower row of the main apse, just to the right (south) of the central window. St. Silvester was pope (314-337) during the reign of the Emperor Constantine. Medieval legends attributed the emperor’s conversion to him and made him the recipient of the forged Donation of Constantine, granting the pope extensive political and ecclesiastical powers. Thomas Becket, the archbishop of Canterbury, was murdered in 1170 by knights of King Henry II and he was canonized in 1173. Both saints represent the authority of the church over secular powers and their prominence is linked with the close relations between the Norman king, William II of Sicily, and the papacy.
Date: 1180s
D'Emilio photo archive no. s19780910_1986uGalleries:Italy 1180s, Mosaic, Mosaics, interior, Monreale cathedral, St. Silvester, pope, St. Thomas Becket of Canterbury, archbishop and martyrKeywords:St. Silvester, St. Thomas Becket, archbishop, martyr, mosaic, pallium, pope, tonsurePhotographer: Dr. James D’EmilioDate of Photo:Device Make: NikonDevice Model: Nikon SUPER COOLSCAN 5000 EDOriginal Dimensions: 3546×5288Picture Orientation: PortraitGPS Coordinates:Picture Number: 22084
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