St.
Margaret, one of the early saints, daughter of a pagan priest, was
born in Antioch and converted into Christianity by her nurse. Later the
Roman governor Olymbrius liked her, but was rejected because of her vow
of chastity. She was put to prison, where the Devil attacked her, then
a dragon swallowed. But she managed to cut his belly with a little crucifix
and escape. Olymbrius ordered her to be tortured and finally she was beheaded.
She is often depicted with crucifix or cross, dragon, pearl rosary.
See: Fra Bartolommeo The
Annunciation, with Saints Margaret, Mary Magdalene, Paul, John the Baptist,
Jerome and Francis.
Jean Fouquet. St.
Marguerite.
Rogier van der Weyden St.
Margaret and St. Apollonia.
Francisco de Zurbarán St.
Margaret.
Recommended reading:
The
Book of Saints: The Lives of the Saints According to the Liturgical Calendar
by George Angelini, Victor Hoagland (Editor). Regina Press, Malhame &
Company, 1986.
365
Saints: Your Daily Guide to the Wisdom and Wonder of Their Lives
by Woodeene Koenig-Brick (Author). Harper SanFrancisco, 1995.
All
Saints: Daily Reflections on Saints, Prophets, and Witnesses for Our Time
by Robert Ellsberg. Crossroad/Herder & Herder, 1997.