Processional Cross
Processional Cross
ATQ.000008
Antiquity
AD 400s
Unknown
N/A
Gilt Silver
12.6 × 8.1 in. (32 × 20.6 cm)
On View in The History of the Bible, The Written Tradition
This processional cross is made from a single flat sheet of silver, with gilding around the edges. A tang at the base of the cross would originally have been inserted into a wooden staff and carried as part of a procession. Crosses like this were designed to be seen from a distance and were used as part of the liturgy and ceremony of the Byzantine Church. There are many artistic depictions of prominent Christians holding such staffs mounted with crosses.
Created in the fifth century AD. Acquired in the late 1960s by Dr. C. Milev, Germany. Acquired before 2017 by Ariadne Galleries, London;[1] Purchased in 2017 by Museum of the Bible, Washington, DC.
Notes: [1] Upon request, the dealer provided no further information.
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