Ancient Byzantine Reliquary Cross
Eastern Mediterranean
Circa 10th – 11th century AD, (early Crusades period)
(78 x 32 mm – 3.12” high, weight 23.61 gm)
This is a two part, hinged bronze reliquary cross, which is complete & apparently unopened. The cross was formed of two parts and hinged top and bottom. The engraved design on this unusual cross portrays, on one side, a full-length robed Christ with arms extended and a cross above his head. On the other side is a representation of the Virgin Mary (Orans), with arms and hands raised. This iconography indicates the reliquary was likely thought to contain a splinter of the True Cross.
Excellent condition with suspension loop and deep green patina.
For very similar examples see Piticaris, "Les Croix-Reliquares Pectorales Byzantine", Paris, 2006, particularly #223 and #236 - identified from the area of Constantinople and Anatolia, late Tenth to Eleventh century.
The word crusade, which is derived from the Latin crux (cross), is a reference to the biblical injunction that Christians carry their cross. Crusaders wore a red cross sewn on their tunics to indicate they had assumed the cross and were soldiers of Christ. Many also wore a pectoral cross around their neck.
