The relics of Mary Magdalene
The relics of Mary Magdalene consist of human remains that are believed to have belonged to Mary Magdalene, a prominent female follower of Jesus Christ. The most renowned relic is a charred skull, housed in a golden reliquary at the basilica of Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume in Southern France.
Image Description: Skull relic of Mary Magdalene in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, France, Date: Taken on 26 July 2009
Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20161013235948/http://www.panoramio.com/photo/25179745 Author: Itto Ogami
Who is Mary Magdalene?
Mary of Magdala is said to be one of the earliest followers of Jesus of Nazareth. According to the Bible, Mary travelled with him, witnessed his Crucifixion and was one of the first to learn of his Resurrection.
Over the centuries, many people from, early church leaders to filmmakers have revised and elaborated on the story of Mary Magdalene.
Some have they Minimized her importance by claiming she was a prostitute, a ruined woman who repented and was saved by Christ’s teachings. Whereas some early Christian texts portrayed Mary Magdalene as not just a follower, but as Jesus’s trusted companion, some believed to his wife.
This relic is often described as "one of the most precious [relics] in all Christendom" and "one of the world's most famous sets of human remains." Other claimed relics of Mary Magdalene include a foot bone at the basilica of San Giovanni dei Fiorentini in Italy, a left hand at the Simonopetra Monastery in Greece, a tooth showcased at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and a rib located in the Vezelay Abbey, the Basilica of Ste.
Magdalene, in Vezelay, France. The alleged skull of Mary Magdalene underwent analysis in 1974 and has been sealed in a glass case ever since. Studies of the skull and hair samples suggest it belonged to a woman around 50 years old of Mediterranean descent. However, as the Catholic Church has not permitted any portion of the skull to be removed for dating, the exact year of her death remains undetermined as of 2024.