Early Christian Bronze Cross - Eastern Roman/Byzantine, c. 6th – 8th Century AD
The design portrays the stigmata or five wounds of Christ. Fine dark green patina with brown overtones. This is a small, but substantial and well-crafted ancient pectoral cross in excellent condition, retaining its suspension loop so that it might be worn today, 1200+ years after it was produced.
By the 5th and 6th centuries, the cross had replaced the Chi-Rho as the standard emblem of Christian religious devotion. Its meaning transcended that of the simple monogram to visually recall the crucifixion. Crosses were worn by individuals from every social stratum, from the elaborate bejeweled golden cross of the patriarch to the simple crosses of the common man. 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.
Small pendant crosses with this design were popular in the Holy Land during the Byzantine Period. This example is more elaborate than most. For other ancient crosses with stigmata and an almost identical cross see the exhibition catalog “Kreuz und Kruzifix” (Diocese Museum of Friesing, Germany, 2005), Nr II.4.19 and The Israel Museum (Jerusalem) catalog “The Cradle of Christianity,” p142.
(47 x 27 mm – 1 7/8 x 1 1/16”)
