Webmaster Notes
Medieval Graffiti - Matthew Champion - The lost voices of English Churches
Matthew Champion and the Pax
Medieval Graffiti in St. Mary's, Belchamp Walter
There are many examples of graffiti in St. Mary's church.
The font, the tower and on various other locations.
As seen in the photo above the upside-down W symbols are quite common
as quoted below from the Guild Chapel:
"
The ‘VV’ sign is one of the most common
apotropaic symbols and has been found
throughout the Chapel. Traditionally
thought to be an abbreviation of Virgo
Virginum (Latin for Virgin of Virgins), it calls
on the Virgin Mary for protection. Recent
research suggests the ritual origins of the
symbol might actually lie in Scandinavia as
the sign appears in runic writing systems.
"
The medieval-graffiti-suffolk.co.uk website also shows many images
of this design.
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Medieval Pilgrims' Ampullae
The Mathew Champion book - The lost voices of English Churches, describes the production of Medieval
"souvenirs" that were produced for pilgrims.
The VV is described on the East Anglian Museum of Magic and Mythology website as:
"
...... double V, for Virgo Virginum, Virgin of Virgins, indicating Mary, Mother of God, and forming the
W of Walsingham.
(The VV symbol has also been used widely as an apotropaic device in house protection.)
"
