Byzantine bronze Reliquary Cross - Enkolpion

10th - 11th century AD

€ 1,850.00 VAT margin scheme

Article code: 24-2407

Ancient Byzantine reliquary cross (enkolpion) composed of two halves joined by a hinge. This type is scarce and very rare to find complete (two halves together).

On one side it shows the Virgin Mary, standing in the orant prayer pose with hands upraised at the center of the cross. On the ends of the arms are medallions with busts of the four evangelists holding their gospels. The four Evangelists are indicated on the cross by their Byzantine abbreviations next to their medallions: MT: Matthew (top), MP: Mark (bottom), Λ: Luke (left), I: John (right).

On the other half we see Christ wearing a collobium, crucified, between the diminutive figures of the Virgin Mary and St John; above his head a tablet with inscription and representation of the sun and moon; two-lined Greek inscriptions/abbreviations beneath each arm.

Inscription under Christ's right arm: IDEOUSSOU IDOUMETERSOU, translated as: "Behold thy son; behold thy Mother" (John 19.26-7).

Inscription under Christ's left arm: HAGIA THEOTOEI, translated as: "Holy Theotokos".
The term "Theotokos" means "God-bearer" and is a title for the Virgin Mary in Christian theology, particularly within Byzantine traditions. The phrase emphasizes her role as the mother of Jesus Christ, who is considered both fully divine and fully human.

Size: ± 102,8 x 55,7 mm

Condition: good and solid condition with smooth olive-brown patina. Hing loop on the bottom is broken. Signs of wear consistent with an ancient artefact.

Ref 1: for a similar example (one half only) see The Met museum Nr 2018.870.3

Ref 2:The Britisch Museum nr 1985,0305.1 A. Garside, ed., Jewelry: Ancient to Modern (New York: Viking, 1979), no. 461 for a nearly identical specimen found in Palestine.

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