The Deposition from Roccatamburo, a rare mobile relic that accompanied sacred events

The “Deposition from Roccatamburo” is a sculptural group depicting the Deposition of Christ, from the church of San Giuseppe di Arimathea in Roccatamburo.

The group, carved in maple wood, is divided into five sculptures in the round: in the center, the body of Christ, his arms just unnailed from the crossbeam, is supported by Joseph of Arimathea, who—on his left—holds him by embracing his knees and legs. On the right, Nicodemus approaches to free the nail from their feet, still stacked, as at the moment of the crucifixion. Behind the first of the two men is Mary. Behind the second, John. Christ was originally leaning on the cross. Note how, in the Roccatamburo sculptural group, the Virgin’s gaze, unlike John’s, is not directed toward the cross. From the moment of her Son’s death, Mary becomes Mother of the redeemed and image of the Church. At Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit will confirm her role in the fullness of grace.

The wooden Passion group from Roccatamburo is a rare relic of the theatricality that accompanied sacred events during the Middle Ages. The arms were articulated, as in various crucifixes. Once detached from the cross, bent, and arranged at the sides of the body, they transformed them into Dead Christs to be carried in procession on the evening of Good Friday. Famous for its majesty and intense solemnity, the procession in Cascia with the majestic Dead Christ, attended by faithful from all over the Valnerina, is celebrated.

At one time, even some statues of saints had movable right arms or heads. Set in motion by strings, they would nod or wave their hands up and down in a blessing gesture. This custom inspired racy folk tales about the greed of certain clergy members against gullible parishioners. The use of movable statues, however, did not originate in Christian churches: from ancient sources, we learn that the Palladium, the sacred Lignean image of the goddess Athena, kept in Troy and then secreted in Rome in the inner sanctum of the Temple of Vesta, had articulated arms that menacingly raised a sword and shield.