Thursday 9 August 2012

Canterbury Cathedral and its medieval graffiti





My sister came to stay with me this week and I decided to show her the icon that makes Canterbury so famous; its cathedral. As a local student the entry was free for me, as usually it costs £9.50 for an adult.

The cathedral was founded in 597 by an abbot called Augustine who was sent as a missionary by Pope Gregory the Great. Due to its long history it has been the site of many important events, such as the murder of Thomas Becket in December 1170.

Edward The Black Prince 
                                                                                              Henry IV and his wife Joan of Navarre

Despite the more famous and prominent aspects of the cathedral, it was the smaller, forgotten and bypassed details of its long history that got my attention. While walking around the alcoves of the cathedral, I became interested in the walls themselves; just like children still like to graffiti on any surface available, there were initials with dates and symbols carved into the stone to leave their identity and make their for future posterity. There is something beautiful about seeing a name that someone had taken the time to carve into the stone that dates back hundreds of years in the hope that it lasts and that their name is remembered. 












No comments:

Post a Comment