St. Agatha of Sicily (detail; M 070) Ceramic Ornament

St. Agatha of Sicily (died c. 251) is one of the most highly venerated early Christian virgin martyrs. Denounced as a Christian by a spurned suitor during the Decian persecution, she was subjected to assault and had her breasts removed with pincers before being rolled over broken pottery shards and burning coals. For these reasons, she has become the religious poster child for abuse victims and breast cancer patients. + Here St. Agatha is dressed in peacock blues and greens. She holds up her severed right breast in pincers. Looking at the fitted bodice of her dress, St. Agatha’s gown lies flat against her chest wall on her right--the viewer’s left—side where the breast had been removed. With her other hand, St. Agatha fingers prayer beads (not visible here). + Feast: February 5 + Image Credit (M 070): Detail of Virgo inter Virgines [in Latin; La Vierge parmi les vierges in French; The [Blessed] Virgin among Virgins in English], by The Master of the Legend of St. Lucy (fl. c. 1435-1506/1509), oil on oak panel, 67.3"x42.5" (171 cm x 108 cm), c. 1488, Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, Brussels, inv. 2576. From Wikimedia Commons {PD-Art|PD-Old-100}. The image file has been identified as being free of known restrictions under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights.