The Blood Drinking Cult of Thomas Becket | Curator's Corner S6 Ep6

You probably don't associate blood drinking cults with Christianity. Stick around and listen to curator Lloyd de Beer walk you through the ever changing, very bloody, Medieval cult of Thomas Becket (aka Saint Thomas of Canterbury) and you soon will!
Find out more about Thomas Becket, and our exhibition here: bit.ly/3CmUizs
CONTENT WARNING: probably goes without saying, but there's going to be a lot of references to blood, self-filling jars of blood and ways of acquiring blood (both legal and slightly less so).
Images of the Miracle Window © The Chapter, Canterbury Cathedral
The Seven Works of Mercy (detail), 1504. Oil on panel. © Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, SK-A-2815.
Becket Leaves © The Trustees of the Wormsley Fund
Digital Reconstruction © The Centre for the Study of Christianity and Culture (CSCC), University of York.
#BecketfulOfBlood #BecketExhibition #CuratorsCorner

[@chattykathie7129]

Welcome back I’ve missed the curators corner

[@ellienorrr8524]

Me too!!

[@racheldavis5229]

So glad Curator's Corner is back. Love this guy's passion and enthusiasm for the smaller, less sparkly, more personal items. Its not so surprising that big shiny things survive the centuries - they're big and valuable. But that these little common articles have survived is a miracle and a testament to how important they were to the people who owned them through time. Either that,or they got lost in a corner and forgotten! 😉

[@masterdrewanthony]

This guy is an excellent orator. ...And he should definitely cite this comment in his CV.

[@lefroy1]

Hark!. yon pitter-patter of BBC4 heed t'ward his door.

[@kelvinkersey5058]

@@lefroy1 I doubt it. too white too male for bbc

[@homo.incurvatus]

@@kelvinkersey5058 was that a joke? genuinely asking

[@laurabuche5191]

Coming from a majoritarian Christian (and Catholic) country, Argentina, I have just a very vague idea of who Thomas Beckett is. The video has ignited my interest in reading and learning more about his story.

[@lorenzoc.b.9809]

Busca la película sobre su vida, "Becket" de 1964, es buenísima.

[@laurabuche5191]

@@lorenzoc.b.9809 Muchas gracias!!

[@thomasbeckett1245]

As always thanks 🙏

[@gaslitworldf.melissab2897]

Love this channel. Museums really keep history alive and preserved for future generations. I could live in a museum, such the geek that I am.

[@SiriusFeanor]

What I enjoy most of all about the Curators Corner is the enthusiasm of curators about their subject. That's really contagious and admirable. Thank you for sharing it with us!

[@obcl8569]

So very true!

[@naskabeer950]

When I was taught about Beckett and that he used to wear a scratchy vest with maggots and insects underneath constantly to forever remember the pain.. put a 10 year old me off eating rice for a month.

[@MegaJackpinesavage]

"Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest?!!! And here we sit mesmerised hundreds of years later.

[@lechatel]

I have found six different pilgrims ampullae in my corner of rural Normandy.Different patterns and decoration depending on which shrine and pilgrimage they were collected from.Most of mine are 13th and 14th century. They would be filled with Holy water and/or oil and then taken home. More than half of my finds are breached, a hole pushed in them and the lead peeled back. The Holy liquid was poured on the land and the ampulla buried as a way of ensuring a good harvest and ambundant orchard etc.

[@GillRant]

Very interesting to read, thanks for sharing!

[@ABlessman]

I have watched many Curator's Corner presentations and am so thankful to have had them during the pandemic. This presentation is perhaps my favorite one so far. The storytelling is so well done -and I really appreciate seeing objects like this (of more humble origin.) Thank you!

[@juliepoppy1021]

Thanks so much, this is brilliant. That's how I actually feel about historic objects the really interesting and fascinating objects that were used or worn by lots of people, really are more impressive.

[@ericduffield524]

Dr Beer is an excellent teacher. Thanks for Curator's Corner!

[@jbos5107]

Thank you all so much for making these videos. So many things and people and places that I will never get to see. It means so much to me and others I'm sure that we can see a bit of the world through these videos.

[@ArndTWS]

Incredible story and amazing insights into the workings of pilgrimage. Thank you!

[@obcl8569]

This was such a rich treat!! It's the sundries, the miscellany that I find most nurtures my affinity to people & times in history. It's like finding something of a relative's & within it getting a true, tangible sense of a part of their day. Magic. Thank you for this - cannot wait for the video on the exhibit since most of us can't get to the museum any time soon :) Makes these videos all the more special.

[@sometimessiri.8559]

This was a fantastic presentation and makes me really appreciate the small, every day objects that people in the past held dear to them. I don't know much about religion in general but good marketing is good marketing regardless of the century it's done in. It's also a lot more enjoyable to hear someone speak on a subject that they're clearly interested in and I wish my teachers had taught with the same amount of passion. History is full of amazing stories but it's the best storytellers who are able to bring it to life years later. Well done all around.

[@cleof1503]

I love these #CuratorsCorners. I get to see & experience artifacts i would otherwise never get to see. Thank you

[@vickiharrington8870]

That's an amazing story. I've always been fascinated with Becket. Thanks.

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

I’ve never seen the objects ordinary people would have carried back with them…very much enjoyed this.

[@maureencrawford2275]

Such a fascinating story teller! Thank you so much.

[@richardthorpe8889]

Well done Mr. De Beer, very engaging description of these wonderful artifacts and their context in this amazing part oh history. Thank you.

[@davidevans3227]

thankyou for sharing this.. ..and highlighting parts of the images and pictures we're seeing and explaining them too..

[@djhart25]

"You probably don't associate blood drinking cults with Christianity" kind of cracked me up in the description. That's actually the first religion my mind associates drinking blood with

[@davidevans3227]

in mass everyday

[@MicaiahYaakovBuzi]

Wannabes British Israelism A joke by jokers of reality 🔥🎃🔥

[@davidchurch3472]

Precisely - you can get Christ's blood for free in Church daily, but to be able to sell miracle blood and make money on the enterprise, obviously you need the blood of another saint instead : it is rarer, stronger, and therefore deserves a bigger charitable donation to the monastery treasury.

[@myqueerplantfamily]

I remember my little brother yelling “Ewww!” in PSR when the teacher explained transubstantiation 😂

[@madamedellaporte4214]

You don't have a clue that is why. I am brought up Orthodox Christian and the actual dinking of blood does not cross my mind. You might be shocked to know that actual blood is not present in Holy Communion.

[@EcceJack]

This was absolutely fascinating! Thank you for delving into the small objects, which indeed still tell us a very large and complex story!

[@johnathanadams6378]

My absolutely favorite series!

[@caravaggiosaccomplice7841]

This was brilliant! Is your name really de Beer? And you’re the gold treasure guy? Too funny. More of this, please!

[@NellaCuriosity]

This was a fantastic video! I love Curators' Corner!

[@julesschultz2910]

Great to see the curators again 🙂

[@bedewedwithpleasure]

Yes yes yes... I love looking at the details but its soo hard to look closely especially the small objects. Thank you for featuring them!

[@mymind101]

Please continue doing this serie, I really enjoy it!

[@rgnyc]

Excellent historical mini-lecture - thank you!

[@ptonpc]

I've missed curator's corner. Thanks for this :)

[@jaymevosburgh3660]

This is amazing! I had never heard anything about this at all. Very surprised that none ov my teachers told me about this.

[@MindinViolet]

That was genuinely fascinating. Thank you.

[@kimberlypatton205]

Please continue your remarkable passion and incredible professional insight regarding these objects!I found this video so engaging and full of the kind of details that bring history to life! Things I never would have known or heard about! Thanks! New sub!

[@carmenartigas1]

I love his deep knowledge and passion!

[@ashcross]

My life goal is to have someone smile at me in the same way Lloyd smiles at the thought of overflowing miracle blood.

[@conningdale8805]

Very interesting video. Would love to see this exhibition, but unfortunately we are all in lockdown here (Sydney). A miracle would be very handy right now! All the best, and thanks for posting this. Good viewing.

[@SkunkApe407]

Hello! New subscriber from sunny Florida here. Fascinating and morbidly interesting material, this. Thank you for sharing!

[@gerardosalazar161]

Extremely interesting conference and as you said many times we do not pay attention to these humble exhibits and go for the shiny ones without realizing the deep historical value of these relics. Something that never cease to fascinate me is how art decayed so much during medieval times from the Roman times with their highly realistic and well-proportioned images to the childish-like depictions of the Human figure. Thank you for posting Mr. DeBeer and kindly bring out more videos. Have a great day.

[@elainelillianjoseph3905]

This was bloody brilliant. I really want to see this exhibition now if I can. But it would be even more enhanced if this curator gave a guided tour!

[@arsongrady]

Wow, what an orator. Great explanations of the items!! Very interesting.

[@nance1111]

I wish I'd had history instructors like LdB when I was in school. He makes learning about the past very interesting. I'm going to read more about Thomas Becket now. Well done.

[@joeastham0]

The passionate presentation of the curator has me hooked

[@britishmuseum]

If you'd like to find out more about Thomas Becket, or own your very own replica of a Becket pilgrim badge, we have a load of books and items relating to Thomas Becket in our shop. Every purchase helps support the British Museum, and to keep making videos like this for all of you. Plus who doesn't want a Becket Miracle Window tie? Link: bit.ly/3wCHlyv

[@pattheplanter]

Do you not have any blood for sale? Why promote it in the video if you haven't got any in the shop?

[@Zelmel]

@JONATHAN SUTCLIFFE You don't need quite that many ellipses... A single period/full stop will do.

[@lovingmayberry2000]

@@Zelmel But then again, he is entitled to write the way he chooses, right?

[@Zelmel]

@@lovingmayberry2000 It's fine, I was just pointing out something that someone may not have known. Please chill.

[@conmckfly]

What a fascinating bit of history. Thank you for such a great story.

[@DavidMaurand]

is curator's corner back?! fantastic!

[@mantronixtube]

this is awesome!

[@margaretmax-community]

Thank you so much. I found that so interesting. Looking forward to more. 🇦🇺

[@cj4631]

Nice work Lloyd…a metaphor for life on so many levels within three small unassuming objects!

[@VincentGroenewold]

"Divine will", aka, money. :) Great story!

[@thomasbeckett1245]

Hahaha 🤣… not really. Although they weren’t poor, the wealthy people didn’t have the luxuries we do today.

[@SkylersRants]

Fascinating. Thank you.

[@gregkral4467]

Those pieces are very intricate, fascinating, and tell a story. I can imagine someone putting in a lot of work on those details.... as a gift or order, or respect, or love....

[@thomasbeckett1245]

Watching this with honour. ❤ 🎉happy saint day!

[@gregkral4467]

fascinating presentation,,,, thank you so much.

[@Luna.3.3.3]

~Thank you Mr de Beer! for the personal history lesson. As a history nerd & Anglophile, I thoroughly enjoyed this. I hope to visit your fine museum someday. ~Greetings from Canada 🇨🇦

[@Chlorate299]

That was really interesting, thanks!

[@madaug5101]

This was very interesting. I never knew any of this, thank you.

[@damselfly8]

Thank you! So interesting and well done! I used to love spending time a the BM.

[@robertschlesinger1342]

Interesting and worthwhile video.

[@Sweetgi28]

Oh the corners back! Yay!

[@EmilyJelassi]

Very interesting video.. Thank you! 😊❤

[@simonettapolenghi1404]

Brilliant, thank you

[@rhondahuggins9542]

Living in small town America is not the first place most people would find an ancient Egyptian exhibition...but I was able to view The Ramses Ii Exhibition about ten years ago. I have been an "armchair anthropologist" much of my life, but there, before me artifacts I'd only ever seen in pictures. Of course, all the royal artifacts were magnificent...but my absolute favorite part was a 'hammer and chisel that would have been used by an everyday worker. The hammer looked more like a squatty bell, but you could see the wear on its head from use and a split in the wood on one side. A real person held that and worked with it all day. That to me is the most profoundly relevant reminder of our place in this world. Thank you so much for sharing these three 'everyday' artifacts.

[@CamdenArtsCentre]

thank you for the story , amazing

[@anttibjorklund1869]

I remember years ago visiting the British Museum and having the opportunity to touch that reliquary of St Thomas Becket. It was an inspirational visit.

[@bobm.4268]

excellent thank you!

[@fabrisseterbrugghe8567]

The placebo effect is wonderful.

[@elizabethingram9784]

Very Interesting!

[@Ceorolus]

I enjoyed this video reminding me of the exhibition and the story behind the ampullae.

[@joekeegan937]

Very interesting; thank you.

[@lelleithmurray235]

Fascinating!

[@AngelaBonanza]

Lloyd is so cute and so enthusiastic!! Such an interesting video

[@lisakilmer2667]

This is one of the best presentations in the Curator's Corner series. I wish I could see the exhibit; its premise of how a murder victim was turned into a saint is fascinating.

[@bwiddi2]

Fantastic!

[@thomasbeckett1245]

Much enjoyed this KZbin

[@colinbrigham8253]

Thank you ,🤗

[@gnarshread]

This was exellent.

[@jlee4039]

This was great! (and not based on looted artifacts!) 👍👏👏

[@LaLaLaAllDayLong]

“It’s very good business to never run out of the thing everyone is coming to get” haha so true 6:16

[@hardmuscl4life]

Well done.

[@deejayk5939]

So interesting!

[@malcolmboyd3503]

Fascinating

[@sam21462]

So much of this excellent presentation just kept making me think of Father Guido Sarducci.

[@alessandrofirmani700]

Been soo many times in that museum, live it, is always a jurney

[@floraposteschild4184]

I'd like to see DNA analysis of the stained cloths, etc.: how many are actually human blood, and of those, how many different people they came from, and what they looked like.

[@Oj12323]

I would literally pay this guy to sit in the corner of my room rocking in a chair talking about history while I just chill 🤣

[@flamencoprof]

To me, the "Christianity" of the European Middle Ages is as mysterious, complex and foreign as Tibetan Buddhism.

[@walmorcarvalho2512]

I have that feeling too, but regarding Orthodox Christianity in general

[@majordendrocopos]

Christianity in all it’s various forms is still as weird as any other religion ever invented, but Buddhism at least has a more caring attitude towards other the animals on the planet.

[@flamencoprof]

@@walmorcarvalho2512 Forgot that, Icons for a start.

[@flamencoprof]

@@majordendrocopos Some would say Buddhism is not a religion. Personally, I kill ants with a mental apology to their sisters, eat meat because I have canine teeth for a reason, but have never killed anything bigger than a rat or maybe a fish of a kg or so.

[@majordendrocopos]

@@flamencoprof Buddhism is not a religion if you need gods to be involved, but it is a way of life and an explanation of how things are and life after death, except for Zen Buddhism which concentrates on now, not later. I have omnivorous teeth and a brain and free will, so I eat what it pleases me to eat. You may not personally have killed an animal larger than a good sized fish, but if you eat the meat of larger animals then you are just paying somebody else to kill them for you.

[@carlabattistella1483]

Amazing

[@Reddragon2157]

Is this the inspiration for bloodbornes church of blood healing? Either way, fear the old blood.

[@meir4586]

Thank you so much, awesome channel. Not too long that I lose interest and not too short that the content is superficial and dumb. So interesting, keep uploading content.

[@delphinidin]

I think I speak for everybody when I say.... what the actual f***. Fascinating video!

[@diegoguerra8736]

Awesome

[@TracyHall_DreamsAndLogic]

So... in the image of Beckett returning from exile in the ship - *who* are the two in the water *next* to the ship - one seems to be holding the other?

[@DingbatToast]

It's all about the Merch!

[@TheGigigurl]

Ahhhh...weird history my favorite cup of tea

[@lowlize]

All this blood drinking and blood healing stories must certainly have been an inspiration for Bloodborne

[@oldmanpence4803]

Good sir, you had my attention at “murder”. Carry on, please.

[@gypsysnickerdoodle4354]

Ooooh! Get his man a documentary series, #BBC❣️

[@juliaconnell]

enjoying this - however... what happened to Curators Cornered??? we only had 2 rounds/4 episodes...

[@galaxy_mosaic3587]

oh yah, who ever won that? good memory.

[@tnmoe-]

@@galaxy_mosaic3587 - That answer is probably the exact answer why it's not around. Not enough engagement, I imagine. I liked it though.

[@galaxy_mosaic3587]

@@tnmoe- I thought it was fun and tried to watch all the videos. but it seemed like it was going to be hard to track the voting. all the curator's videos are pretty cool.

[@tnmoe-]

@@galaxy_mosaic3587 - Yea same. I like most of the videos here. Logistics I guess, but nothing wrong with spitballing some ideas!