From Saint to Anthropological Specimen: The Transformation of the Alleged Skeletal Remains of Saint Erik

Abstract

AbstractErik Jedvardsson, king of Sweden, was slain in c. AD 1160 and has been venerated as a saint since the end of the twelfth century. It is clear from historical records and osteological studies that the bones, kept in a reliquary in Uppsala Cathedral, have received much attention over the centuries. Initially they served as intercessors with God and were reverently touched and divided for distribution to other institutions. After the Reformation the remains were kept in a reliquary and exclusively functioned as heirlooms embodying a legendary fallen king. In the Age of Enlightenment, the authenticity of the bones came under scrutiny. Eventually, they turned into subjects of scientific research and no less than three thorough anthropological investigations have been conducted since 1915. The transformation of Saint Erik’s body from a Christian relic to an anthropological specimen not only testifies to the strong agency of the remains but can be traced to several shifts in the ‘cultural paradigm’. Although the historical understanding of the medieval king has not changed significantly over time, these paradigm shifts have inevitably affected the narrative and how the bones have been handled.