Editing Breaking wheel (section)

==Execution of St Catherine==
[[File:Waldburg-Gebetbuch 096.jpg|thumb|upright|Saint [[Catherine of Alexandria]] with a wheel as her attribute]]

Medieval [[Hagiography|hagiographies]], such as the ''[[Golden Legend|Legenda sanctorum]]'', record that [[Catherine of Alexandria|St. Catherine of Alexandria]] was sentenced to be executed on one of these devices for refusing to renounce her Christian belief, which thereafter became known as the ''Catherine wheel'', also used as her [[saint symbolism|iconographic attribute]]. It is said the wheel miraculously broke when she touched it; she was then [[decapitation|beheaded]].<ref name="clugnet">{{Cite web |title=CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: St. Catherine of Alexandria |url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03445a.htm |website=newadvent.org}}</ref> As an attribute it is usually shown broken in a small version beside her, or sometimes as a miniature she holds in her hand; the sword then used is also often shown.

===Coats of arms with Catherine Wheels===
[[File:St-Catherines College Oxford Coat Of Arms (Motto).svg|thumb|upright|The college shield of [[St Catherine's College, Oxford]], depicting four breaking wheels]]

====Persons====
* [[Thomas de Brantingham]]
* [[Katherine Swynford]]

====Organizations====
* [[St Catharine's College, Cambridge]]
* [[St Catherine's College, Oxford]]
* [[University of Santo Tomas Faculties of Ecclesiastical Studies#Faculty of Philosophy|University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Philosophy]]
* [[Worshipful Company of Turners]]
* [[Federal University of Santa Catarina]]
* [[St. Catherine University]]

====Places====
* [[Altena]], Germany
* [[Dzierzgoń]], Poland
* [[Garching bei München]], Germany
* [[Goa]], India, during Portuguese possession
* [[Hjørring]], Denmark, where Saint Catherine is the patron-saint of the Town.
* [[Kaarina]], Finland, [[:File:Kaarinan vaakuna.png|until 2009]] and Piikkiö's union with Kaarina
* [[Kremnica]], Slovakia
* [[Kuldīga]], Latvia
* [[Molsheim]], France
* [[Niedererbach]], Germany
* [[Prien am Chiemsee]], Germany, where Saint Catherine is the patron saint of the town
* [[Sinaai]], Belgium
* [[Wachtebeke]], Belgium
* [[Santa Catalina Island (California)|Catalina Island]], United States
* [[Santa Catarina, Brazil]]