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Agnes (St.)

is represented by Domenichino as kneeling on a pile of fagots, the fire extinguished, and the executioner about to slay her with the sword. The introduction of a lamb (agnus) is a modern innovation, and play on the name. St. Agnes is the patron of young virgins.

“St. Agnes was first tied to a stake, but the fire of the stakes went out; whereupon Aspasius, set to watch the martyrdom, drew his sword, and cut off her head.”

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Agenorides
Agent
Agglutinate Languages
Aghast
Agio
Agis
Agist
Agla
Aglaos
Agnes
Agnes (St.)
Agnes Day (St.)
Agnoites (3 syl.). Ag-no-ites, or Ag-no-i-tæ
Agnostic (An)
Agnus-castus
Agnus Dei
Agog
Agonistes
Agonistics
Agony
Agony Column