Becket was canonised in 1173, and Canterbury quickly grew to be one of the four greatest pilgrimage destinations in Europe. The significance of Becket as a saint and the importance of Canterbury as a place of pilgrimage can be seen by looking at the quantity and types of object connected with his cult. These range from the highly expensive to the cheap and mass-produced. Numerous caskets were made to hold relics of the saint; pilgrim badges and other objects were sold at shrines as evidence of pilgrimage or in the hope of continued protection.
Reliquary casket
Made in France; found in Naples, Italy.
© 2003 Society of Antiquaries of London; Becket casket
See more See more: https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/asset/the-becket-casket/ggE8PmW_oQ4qSAReliquary casket
Made in
Lead alloy pilgrim badge
The shrine of Becket.
See more See more: https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/asset/pilgrim-sign-of-st-thomas-becket/7gHH2Jq4z-9qbQLead alloy pilgrim badge
Portrait of Becket.
See more See more: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=49916&partId=1&searchText=becket&images=true&page=1Lead alloy pilgrim badge
One story told how the bells of Canterbury rang without being touched when Becket was murdered.
See more See more: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=763945&partId=1&searchText=canterbury+bell&images=true&page=1Lead alloy pilgrim badge
A sword that refers to the murder of Becket.
See more See more: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=764082&partId=1&searchText=becket&images=true&page=1Lead alloy flask
This may have held holy water or oil.
See more See more: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=51564&partId=1&searchText=becket&images=true&page=1