The word reliquary has three meanings. It is the sacred place where relics are kept, usually related to a saint. It is also the box in which relics are kept, that is, objects of great value. A locket is also a jewel (usually a pendant or a medallion) inside which a special memory is deposited, for example a lock of hair.
Reliquaries in Christianity
In the Christian tradition, when a saint dies, his remains or personal belongings are deposited in a sacred place, generally in a church. These remains of saints and martyrs are kept in chests, which are known as reliquaries. These chests have an evident symbolic value, as they recall a historical figure who stands out for his holiness and his exemplary life as a Christian.
The locket as a jeweler
The jewels have a great economic value and at the same time a sentimental value. In ancient times, special boxes were used to group personal or family jewelery. These boxes or reliquaries have a special symbolism, since they contain objects that evoke important memories (of a loved one, a gift or an unforgettable celebration). Today the jewelery box or reliquary has become a collector's item and is related to the world of antiques or art auctions.
Some goldsmiths make urns or caskets to guard jewelry. These pieces of jewelery can have a religious, funerary or simply decorative character.
The locket, a jewel with a certain mystery
The locket understood as a jewel is also known as a medallion or pendant. It is very common for these jewels to incorporate some element inside: a small photo, an inscription or are destined to guard a lock of hair, a drop of blood from a loved one or even their ashes. In the 19th century, reliquaries became very popular in British settings. In the Victorian world it was customary to give a mourning locket, which was intended to remember a deceased person.
Carrying a locket is something different from wearing a simple piece of jewelry. In relation to this type of medallion there is generally a story full of intense feelings. In this way, when observing someone with a locket, we know that this object is related to something special and unique and only the owner of the locket knows its true meaning. Its mysterious sense is revealed in the magical component of the locket in the Harry Potter stories.
