Byzantine Small Reliquary Cross

£ 300.00

A beautiful small Byzantine enkolpion bronze reliquary cross, featuring a hinged base and a suspension loop for wear. The front is decorated with a simplified image of Christ, displayed in the Orans position in prayer, while the back displays the representation of the Virgin Mary.

 

Date: Circa 10th - 12th century AD
Condition: Fine, signs of aging and beautiful green patina on the surface.

SOLD

Product Code: BS-11
Category: Tags: , ,

Such a cross, also known as an enkolpion, could have been worn as a pectoral cross, which, during the Middle Ages, was an attribute of bishops. Throughout the centuries a great number of crosses were made to hold a secondary relic in them containing pieces of saints’ clothing, pieces of the True Cross, hair fragments, and so on. Crosses offered protection to the wearer and would have been available all over the Byzantine Empire.

To learn more about Byzantine crosses, please visit our relevant blog post: Enkolpion Crosses in the Byzantine Empire.

Dimensions L 6 cm
Region

Southern Europe

Metal

Bronze

Christian Ideology

Christ, Virgin Mary