Saint Andrew, Scotland’s patron saint, was reputedly crucified at Patras on a cross of X shape, now the well-known white cross on blue of the Saltire flag. However, the association of the saint with the X-shaped cross is not a feature in the early cult of Saint Andrew and does not appear in any of the apocryphal material describing his martyrdom. Using both literary and iconographical evidence, Ursula Hall attempts to determine when, where and how this development in the popular tradition and in the depiction of Saint Andrew’s death might have taken place.
In a clear, captivating style, Ursula Hall examines various written accounts of St Andrew’s life and death, along with an analysis of the traditions and procedures of crucifixion at the time. Pictorial representations of Saint Andrew, in mediums such as embroidery, seals, paintings, sculptures and glass work are abundant compared to literary evidence about his tradition. Ursula Hall examines a variety of these works to uncover the development of iconography and legends surrounding Saint Andrew in Europe, England and Scotland. Through these studies, and in conjunction with an analysis of the functions and context of the X-shaped cross in Christian tradition, she offers fascinating explanations for the association between the distinctive cross and Scotland’s patron saint.
Ursula Hall is a retired lecturer in Ancient History and lives in St Andrews. She had published numerous articles on Roman history and politics, and has also written and lectured on the cult of St Andrew and his role as patron saint of Scotland.
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