Chained to the wheel

Posted by Smokey Stover on September 18, 2005

In Reply to: Chained to the wheel posted by CN on September 17, 2005

: The phrase "chained to the wheel" has got some obvious meanings, but I'd like to know more about its origins and correct usage. Google has already told me the phrase is used popular amongst musicians, buddhists, and of course quite a few bloggers, but the origin remains veiled. Thank you.

Obviously you found this phrase used somewhere before you Googled it. Why not let the rest of us in on it? An early use of the phrase (9th c.) is in connection with St. Catherine of Alexandria, one of the most popular saints, who was allegedly chained to a spiked wheel in order to torture her to death. But the wheel broke and she had to be beheaded instead. But as you know, the phrase appears in many other contexts as well. SS