Special Animals and Patrons

In the middle of the 16th century, it was common in Europe to hang taxidermied animals in the officina from the ceiling, furniture or walls. 

A copper engraving by Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki (1726–1801) of a German pharmacy at the end of the 18th century depicts a narwhal, the horn of which was used in place of the mythical unicorn horn: in powder form against poisonings and as a safeguard during the plague.

Animals played an important role in how pharmacies were named too, as until the end of the 18th century, animals dominated the naming of pharmacies. Eagles, lions, deer, snakes, crabs, bears and unicorns were particularly popular.  

The animals obviously had a symbolic meaning. The lion is the king of all animals, a symbol of strength and courage as well as St. Mark the Evangelist. In Christian lore, it could also symbolize Christ himself.

Antique sources emphasize the deer’s speed, and Old Testament sources list it among pure animals. The deer represents the soul of the Christian believer. 

Fighting the serpent is a symbol of Christ and a symbol of longevity, so it is not surprising that deer often decorate apothecary jars.

It was also a popular medicinal ingredient; medicines made with red deer antlers and bones were considered to be particularly effective.

The snake wrapped around the goblet known today as a symbol of pharmacies became widespread in the 19th century, but its origins reach back to antiquity. According to ancient Greek faith, the snake is one of the companions and symbols of the god of healing, Asclepius.

The figure of Asclepius often appears on 19th-century pharmacy scales. 

The snake, which sheds several times during its development is also a symbol of the renewing, rejuvenating effect of healing. 

According to an 18th-century recipe book, powdered snake skin smoked in a pipe is effective against toothache, and it can also be used to prevent injury and even to intimidate the enemy, additionally, it is a great memory enhancer and can help its user to uncover secrets.

The snake may appear on pharmacy signs in different contexts, but mostly amulets preserve its original role. According to an Old Testament story, the Lord was angry with the dissatisfied Jews wandering in the desert and sent them fiery serpents that bit them.

The bronze snake in this context is the Old Testament foreshadowing of the crucified Jesus, and like Christ, it saves mankind from its sins and has healing powers. 

Cosmas and Damian were healers who did not accept payment for their work and were martyredat the time of the Christian persecution initiated by Emperor Diocletian (244–311). Their cult spread throughout Europe from the 4th century.

Pictured on the left with a red cap is Cosmas, leaning forward and putting medicine in the mouth of a sick man kneeling in front of him. From the 13th century, Cosmas was revered as the patron saint of physicians.

To his right, Damian is holding a grey jar of medicine, which is one of the attributes of pharmacists. From the 13th century, Damian was revered as the patron saint of pharmacists.

St.Martin is considered one of the most well-known saints of the Middle Ages, many miraculous healings were attributed to him even when he was still alive. His figure also appears on apothecary jars. 

The vessel presented depicts a well-known scene of the saint’s legend when Martin, famed for his mercy, gave his cloak to a beggar. 

In this jar papaya seeds were stored, which were used to soften meat and to aid digestion.

The statue on the storage table depicts St. Roch (1195–1227), who was born in Montpellier. Roch dedicated his life to the healing and care of plague patients. 
 

Cult of St. Roch flourished in Venice as early as the 15th century, but it only reached Hungary in the 18th century.

St. Roch is usually depicted accompanied by his dog, as a pilgrim with a water flaskon his belt, leaning on a stick, pointing to the plague wound on his thigh.

Luke the Evangelist, who himself was a physician and enjoyed painting, appears in the exhibition on an engraving by Johann Baptist Klauber (1712–1787).

Luke is immersed in his writing with an ox (his attribute) at his feet.

To his right painting tools and muses can be seen. 

On the left officina furniture is visible, along with apothecary jars. In the foreground some scales and the symbol of pharmacy, a mortar is displayed. 

All of these refer to Luke’s healing work, but they also indicate that the medical and apothecary professions were inseparably linked until the 18th century.

The antecedent of the picture seen in The Golden Eagle Pharmacy Museum is an 18th century copperplate engraving by Andreas Ehrmann from Augsburg. 

The painting shows a detail of a Baroque-style officina, with the inscription Chymica Sancta at the top, proclaiming the sanctity of healing. 

Pictured next to Christ is a nurse of the Hospitaller Order, who measures medicine with a scale, an indispensable tool in medicine making. 

The figure of Jesus also appears on the Baroque mural of the pharmacy officina. On the left side of the selling space, the secco illustrates the story of Jesus and the Bleeding Woman, painted in the early 18th century. 

The picture symbolizes the power of faith in healing. The story of the bleeding woman is told in detail in the Gospel of Matthew and Luke.