Martyrs - Chartres Cathedral

The south porch of Chartres Cathedral contains a series of sculptures, that were made between 1194 and 1230, on the subject of the martyrdom of saints.1 The first of these is St Thomas Becket who is seen here being killed by two knights.

St Blaise was a 4th century Armenian bishop who was flayed alive. The naked figure in the sculpture above wears a bishops mitre whilst two torturers stand on either side.

St Leger was the bishop of Autun, and after the death of King Childeric II, he was killed by his political opponents. In the above scene St Leger's assailant is blinding him with a hot iron.

St Lawrence was killed by being placed on a red hot grill, which the above sculpture portrays.

St Theodore was a 4th century Roman who had his flesh torn off when he burnt down a Roman temple.

St Eustace and his family were killed by being broiled in a heated brazen ox, after refusing to sacrifice in a Roman temple.

Gervase and Potias were twins who were both killed Potias by a spear, and Gervase by being flayed.

• 1. Chartres - Alison Stones http://images.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/i/image/image-idx?q1=FCSP3195A*;r...