The Slaughter of the Innocents: Relief at Orvieto Cathedral

Lorenzo Maitani and Associates, The Slaughter of the Innocents

First half of the 14th century
Relief
West façade, Orvieto Cathedral

This panel illustrates Matthew 2:16-18 – Herod's order that the boy babies in Bethlehem be put to the sword. The soldier in the center wears classical military garb and boots, but on his head is something resembling a Phrygian cap. Herod's dais, throne, and crown are common in Slaughter of the Innocents images, as is the pointing right hand that expresses his command that the slaughter proceed. The figure on the right is Jeremiah, whom Matthew quotes in his account of the slaughter: "A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not" (c.f. Jeremiah 31:15). The "bewailing" is expressed in the open mouth of the mother holding her child.

This scene is part of the fifth register in the relief.

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Photographed at the cathedral by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.