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Dragon badge

  • Object

If you look closely, you will discover a dragon at the feet of Saint Servatius on this weathered insignia. The curl of its tail is most visible (bottom left). This is not surprising, as medieval people were convinced that the dragon's greatest strength lay in its tail.

The insignia comes from Maastricht, where Saint Servatius was worshipped. It was most likely brought back by someone from Ypres as a souvenir of their pilgrimage.

The bishop is one of many saints who did not kill the dragon in battle, but through prayer and faith. Here, the dragon symbolises Arianism, a branch of Christianity condemned as heresy, which the bishop fought fiercely against. This small treasure therefore has a great deal of hidden meaning.

> Want to know more about saints and their battle against dragons? Read the article “Dragon slayers in the Middle Ages”.

> Visit the exhibition “The Dragon of Ypres” and discover all the other dragon gems from the Ypres collection, with Margriet as the showpiece!

> For more information about the unique collection of insignia in the Ypres Museum, click here.

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