Description
The Thomas Becket Tympanum commemorates the 850th anniversary of the murder of Becket on December 29th 1170 and his canonisation two years later on February 21st 1173.
The design is based on the tympanum from the central portal of Vezelay Abbey in France where Becket spent some of his time in exile. The saint takes centre stage with the murderous knights to one side of him and the Canterbury clergy who witnessed his murder on the other. Surrounding them are characters who played a part in the story of the conflict between Becket and King Henry II with their various symbols and heraldic motifs. These details are based on illustrations in The Becket Leaves – the only surviving illustrated medieval life of Thomas (dated to the 13th century). Below Becket flows the English Channel which divided the kingdoms of France and England and which Becket crossed and re-crossed so often in his lifetime and career. The ship design is taken from a lead pilgrim badge found at the shrine of St Thomas Becket in Canterbury and probably made two centuries later to celebrate the Regressio Sancti Thomae – a festival which commemorated Becket’s triumphal return from exile just prior to his martyrdom.
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