Symbols · Martyrdom
Palm
Universal symbol of martyrdom
How to recognise it
Palm branch marks a martyr who triumphed through death.
Combine palm with the saint’s personal attribute to confirm identity.
Attribute cabinet
Two keys identify Saint Peter. In Perugino’s fresco, Christ gives them to him at the centre of the piazza.
See Saint Peter
The keys
What can you see?
Choose up to three clues to find figures in the collection that share them all.
Your clues · 0/3
Try a combination
Symbol index
Results · 73Looking guides
Study symbols by theme
Most Recognizable
Beginner Symbol Guide
Martyrdom Clues
Animals & Their Meaning
Compare figures
How to read an image
- Look at what the figure holds and how it is used.
- Study the clothes. A habit, armour or dalmatic can help establish a role.
- Compare the object and the clothing with the action in the scene.