17th century German school

German school of the XVII century.
"Saints of the Theban Legion".
Pair of sculptures in carved and polychrome wood.
Measurements: 35 x 26 x 15 cm.

This pair of Saints of the Theban Legion could be part of a larger sculptural group. Both have been represented with laurel crown and armor of Roman style with serene expressions of great physical resemblance. The brocades of their tunics stand out.
The Theban legion was a legion of the Roman army of the East that came from Thebes, in Egypt, and whose officers had converted to Christianity. They were called by the emperors Maximian and Diocletian to fight against the rebellious Bagaudas, only to be massacred between 285 and 306 at Agaunus for refusing to obey orders that contravened their religion. In this composition we see two of the soldiers with the skull and the holy scriptures.