Description

The Crown of Thorns worn by Jesus has become one of the most widely recognized symbols in Christian religious art—but did the actual historical crown truly resemble the familiar version depicted in medieval artworks and popular religious imagination? Typically, we picture Jesus as bruised and bloodied, wearing a harsh, woven headpiece crafted from sharp thorns. Yet, according to author Faith C. Tibble, this familiar depiction is misleading; it originates from a longstanding misinterpretation (and mistranslation) of the Gospel narratives.

In her insightful study, Tibble corrects these misunderstandings by tracing the artistic transformation of the Crown of Thorns. Beginning with its earliest known representations in the fourth century, she carefully follows its evolution until the eleventh century, when it began to take on the distinctive artistic traits we know and recognize to this day in artwork and films. By chronicling these artistic changes, Tibble sheds new light on the spiritual and ideological themes central to medieval Christianity, including victory, humility, and perseverance, demonstrating how the Crown of Thorns symbolized these ideas over the centuries.

Ultimately, Tibble reveals how a single translation error profoundly impacted the interpretation of the Gospels and inadvertently shifted the trajectory of European religious art, leaving lasting and unexpected influences on Western visual culture.