Saint Sebastian from Roman Martyr to Queer Icon

This book traces the afterlives of Saint Sebastian from martyr and plague saint to queer icon and socio-political protest figure as represented within art and literature. Initially venerated as a local Roman saint in the 4th century, St. Sebastian later became a popular plague saint in the 14th century and queer identification figure and universal protest icon in the 19th and 20th centuries. Stephanie Hollinger and Stephan Goertz shine a light on this rich and varied history, placing particular emphasis on revealing St. Sebastian's influence on contemporary art and literature. By examining the saint's representation in art, this book uncovers a thought-provoking, cross-historical dialogue between theological, social, and political ideologies embodied by the saint.