The Oil and Ampulla

In a legend described on the back of this menu, the spirit of the virgin Mary presented Thomas à Becket with a vessel shaped like an eagle (the ampulla) and a vial of oil which, she said, should be used to anoint English monarchs during their coronations. That would have been before 1170.

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Faith in the legend was strong enough that they continued to use the same oil for new coronations until 1625, when Charles I was crowned, despite the fact that, as Queen Elizabeth I commented, the oil was quite rancid and “smelt ill.” Fortunately for royal noses, but unfortunately for Charles I, the ampulla was destroyed during the English civil war (during which Charles lost his head). A new one was made in 1661 for the coronation of Charles II and has been used ever since.


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