Cross
Item
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Work Number
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577062
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Title
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Cross
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Description
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The front of the cross bears a greeting in between images of the Annunciation and a embrace of some sort. The Greek, Χαιρε (chíre) - a way of saying hello, or, literally, rejoice or be happy - in addition to ασπασμος (aspasmos) - a salutation - greeting either the viewer of the object or perhaps a subject in the scenes depicted. At the center of the cross is the Crucifixion. The left arm bears the Nativity and the right the a presentation of the Christ child to Anthony (?). On the lowermost arm of the cross is the Baptism of Christ.
On the back are saints with their respective names inscribed in Greek, lined up in the arms of the cross. Saint John appears to be slightly larger than the other holy men. Elijah the Prophet has been included just to the right of Saint John. He is the only Old Testament figure to be included on this side of the cross. In the uppermost portion of the top arm of the cross is a Majestas Domini image. Just beneath is a depiction of the Virigin's Assumption, when the Virgin Mary died and entered into Heaven. The lowermost arm of the cross is a depiction of the Anastasis. The hieratically enlarged Christ, tramples upon a personification of Hades. The door of his tomb has been burst forth, away from the scene. Typically Christ pulls Adam and Eve out of their tombs as well but here we only see four saints (?), two on each side of Christ. These saints have not been identified with a monogram or name however, standard iconographic depictions of the Anastasis often show Seth and David (proper right?) and John the Baptist and Solomon (proper left?) (Weyl Carr, "Anastasis", Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium).
On the top and bottom of the cross are Greek abbreviations and divine monograms marked by a line over two closely place letters.
On either side of the cross are more Greek inscriptions. The letters in some instances have not been preserved. The top line seems to translate roughly to, "Being the household servant, I protect [.....] his touch."
The cross is able to be opened. A hinge at the center always each identical face of the cross to move opposite one another, creating two vertically stacked crosses when opened. There is a shallow space in the interior to deposit a relic perhaps. A clasp at the top of each face of the cross, locks the two sides into place when closed.
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Medium
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Niello
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Language
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Greek
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Subject
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Jesus Christ, Baptism
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Jesus Christ, Crucifixion
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Jesus Christ, Nativity
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Mary, Blessed Virgin, Saint, Annunciation
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Cosmas, Saint
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Damian, Saint
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John, the Apostle, Saint
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Elijah (Biblical prophet)
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Andrew, Apostle, Saint
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Thomas, Apostle, Saint, active 1st century
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Angels
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Majestas Domini
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Mary, Blessed Virgin, Saint, Assumption
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Anastasis
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Provenance
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Gallery, case 4
