Hot Off The Presses: Medieval Pseudo-Relics
The practice of relic forgery was not uncommon in medieval times – a handful of knucklebones and a good story were common features of the carnival sideshow-esque routine which put coins in the pockets of corrupt clergymen like Chaucer’s pardoner:
Thanne shewe I forth my longe cristal stones,
Ycrammed ful of cloutes and of bones;
Relikes been they, as wenen they echoon.- The Pardoner’s Prologue
Geoffrey Chaucer
Is it any surprise that the much-disputed Shroud of Turin, a relic of dubious authenticity carbon-dated to medieval times (though still held with a “no comment” posture by the Catholic church), should be gather more evidence against the veracity of its origin?
An Italian scientist has proven that medieval confidence men had all the tools they needed to produce the relic – doubtful this will dissuade any true believers, but I really liked his response regarding the origin of his funding…
Garlaschelli received funding for his work by an Italian association of atheists and agnostics but said it had no effect on his results.
“Money has no odor,” he said. “This was done scientifically. If the Church wants to fund me in the future, here I am.”
- Italian scientist reproduces Shroud of Turin
by Philip Pullella
That statement is on par with asking Monsanto’s legal team for funding to prove that aspartame is safe for human consumption…
