Posted 7 years ago
artfoot
(367 items)
The first medal is a souvenir from Nagasaki, Japan. What was ground zero on August 9, 1945 became the Nagasaki Peace Park. In the park, an obelisk was placed marking the hypocenter of the explosion, a portion of a Roman Catholic cathedral destroyed in the blast was placed nearby, and a 20-meter (33 ft.) tall sculptural version of the figure shown on the face of this medal was erected. The bell on the obverse side refers to the recovery of the bell from that destroyed Urakami Cathedral and what that bell meant to the city.
The origin of the second medal is somewhat more obscure to me though the depiction and mention of St. Michael on the obverse leads me to believe this has some sort of Roman Catholic connection. And "Oh my Virgin Mary" what a scene on the front as Mary seems to be emerging from the mushroom cloud that has split the world apart. Pax indeed.
Though there may be differences in approach, both medals are asking for divine intervention in the face of nuclear destruction.
Very interesting.