Location: Chapel
Donor/ lender: Ahmanson
Matthew was crucified on a "T" or "Tau" crucifix, and after death he was beheaded.
Before receiving his calling, his name was Levi and he was a publican.
After Christ's Ascension he is said to have worked in Palestine and Ethiopia, where he was killed with a sword in front of an altar.
His attributes: Sword (which is the weapon with which he was killed) - an axe or halberd, a purse or an abacus (because he was a publican before becoming a disciple, Mat. 9:9-13), Tau cross (there is a legend to the effect that he was crucified on a tau cross in Ethiopia). He is also seen wearing glasses, which presumably refers to his "office work " as a publican.
Pictured here:
The background to the image is something that might remind of an abacus - a reference presumably to St. Matthew's past as a publican, something concerned with abacuses and taxes.
In addition there is a sword in P.B.'s images maybe because St. Matthew was beheaded. Also included is the tau cross, referring to the legend according to which St. Matthew was crucified.
