THE ANNUNCIATION

Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ as told in the Nativity, with a key scene being when the angel Gabriel tells Mary that she will give birth to the son of God. This is known as the Annunciation and is mentioned in the Bible, the Dead Sea scrolls and the Qur’an; In Islam Jesus is a prophet of God, not the son.

The story was popular during the medieval period, with pilgrim badges and rings making reference to it. A pilgrim badge on the database depicts the Annunciation (BH-199D37), with Mary on the left, represented by a cross and Gabriel on the right, depicted with wings; although the Bible states that Gabriel appeared to Mary as a man, not an angel. The central column most likely represents a lily, given to Mary as a symbol of her purity. A medieval stirrup finger ring that makes reference to the Annunciation is also recorded on the database (LON-121037). The ring shows a pair of clasped hands and inscribed around the outside is [A V E M(?) A R I A: G], this would have originally read AVE MARIA  GRACIA PLENA (Hail Mary, full of grace). These represent the words spoken by Gabriel to Mary during the Annunciation and were a popular inscription.

This scene signifies the start of the nativity story and makes the perfect start to our series of festive finds blogs.