Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
sanctuary knocker
Table of Contents
Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics
Images
sanctuary knocker
Quizzes
Hagia Sophia. Istanbul, Turkey. Constantinople. Church of the Holy Wisdom. Church of the Divine Wisdom. Mosque.
Architecture: The Built World
Read Next
Vandalized Art list. Combo of EB owned illustration (top) and parent Asset 182294. 4 of 11 The Rokeby Venus by Diego Velazquez was hit with a meat cleaver by Mary Richardson
Art Abuse: 11 Vandalized Works of Art
Painting palette with oil paints and brushes. Rainbow colored paints, arts and entertainment
Art History: The Origins of 7 of Your Favorite Art Supplies
Candles Burning On Table In Church
What Is the Most Widely Practiced Religion in the World?
Night view of the Opera House and new business quarter, Oslo, Norway.
These 8 Buildings Will Make You See Norway in a New Light
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's House, Weimar,Germany; photocrom print published between 1890-1900.
5 Historically Significant Houses in Germany
Discover
Ruminant. Deer. Red deer. Cervus elaphus. Buck. Stag. Antlers.
9 of the World’s Deadliest Mammals
Happy, smiling, flying pig
7 Everyday English Idioms and Where They Come From
Globe South America, map
What’s the Difference Between Hispanic and Latino?
Black widow spider
9 of the World’s Deadliest Spiders
King Cobra snake in Malaysia. (reptile)
9 of the World’s Deadliest Snakes
NBA Lakers Celtics Finals Kevin Garnett shooting.
10 Great Sports Rivalries
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), Italian Renaissance painter from Florence. Engraving by Cosomo Colombini (d. 1812) after a Leonardo self portrait. Ca. 1500.
10 Famous Artworks by Leonardo da Vinci
sanctuary knocker
sanctuary knocker Sanctuary knocker on the door of the cathedral at Durham, Eng.

sanctuary knocker

architecture
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Also known as: sanctuary ring
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Article History
Also called:
Sanctuary Ring
Related Topics:
church
See all related content

sanctuary knocker, in architecture, knocker on the outer door of a Christian church. The sanctuary knocker could be a simple metal ring, which accounts for its other name of sanctuary ring, or it could be highly ornamental, as in the Norman example at Durham cathedral in England, dating from the turn of the 12th century. According to the ecclesiastical law of the Middle Ages, a fugitive had only to touch the sanctuary knocker in order to be immune from arrest.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.