Dimensions: diameter 3.7 cm, weight 18.65 gr
Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain
This is a small silver medal, commemorating the burning of Jan Hus, and made anonymously. The medal speaks volumes about the cultural and religious tensions of its time. On one side, we see a portrait of Hus, a Czech theologian and philosopher who was burned at the stake for heresy in 1415. The other side depicts his execution. It serves as a potent symbol of religious persecution, but also as a call for reform. Consider the implications of creating and distributing such a medal. In doing so, the anonymous artist challenged the authority of the Catholic Church. The images served as propaganda, reinforcing Hus's image as a martyr. To understand this medal fully, we need to delve into historical archives, religious texts, and social histories. Only then can we grasp the medal's role as a tool of religious and political expression.
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