Barbara

Japanese: バルバラ（英語表記）Barbara

A legendary saint from Nicomedia, Asia Minor, born c. 238-c. 306. One of the Fourteen Saints who Helped People. Patron saint of miners, firemen, artillerymen, architects, towers, and powder magazines. Also a savior of those who died in accidents. Daughter of a wealthy pagan, she was locked in a tower by her father, who was devoted to her. When she converted to Christianity, her father handed her over to the authorities, and Barbara was beheaded and martyred. Her father was struck by lightning at the execution ground and reduced to ashes. The legend was formed in the 7th century, and in art she was depicted in frescoes in the 8th century. She is often depicted holding a tower with three windows (symbolizing the Trinity), a chalice, a peacock feather, or a palm branch (Van Eyck's "Barbara"), and is sometimes depicted with Catherine of Alexandria and others.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

238ころ‐306ころ
小アジア，ニコメディア出身の伝説的聖女。十四救難聖人の一人。鉱夫，消防士，砲兵，建築家，塔，火薬庫などの守護聖人。また不慮の事故による死者の救済者。富裕な異教徒の娘で，娘を熱愛する父によって塔に閉じ込められていた。キリスト教に改宗するや父が役人に引き渡し，バルバラは斬首されて殉教。父は刑場で雷に打たれ灰燼に帰した。伝説は7世紀に形成され，美術においては8世紀にはフレスコ画に描かれている。三つの窓(三位一体を象徴する)を持つ塔，聖杯，クジャクの羽毛，シュロの枝などを手にすることが多く(ファン･アイク《バルバラ》)，アレクサンドリアのカタリナらとともに描かれることもある。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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