Bronze cross with a Greek inscription invoking the help of *John (probably the Baptist, S00020). Provenance unknown, probably south-eastern Mediterranean. Late antique.
E02831
Inscriptions - Inscribed objects
Images and objects - Other portable objects (metalwork, ivory, etc.)
Bronze cross pattée (with arms that broaden out towards the ends) within a disc, probably from a processional cross (similar to that from Jerusalem, discussed in E02735).
The disc bears the following inscription, suggesting that it was offered to a sanctuary of John the Evangelist or John the Baptist by a woman called Christina:
ἅγιε Ἰωάννη, ἐλέισων τὴν δούλιν σου Χριστήναν
'Saint John, have mercy upon your servant Christina!'
The arms of the cross bear another inscription (it seems that the central omega was omitted by the engraver):
ζ
φ <ῶ> ς
ή
'Light, life.'
Text: Mondésert 1960, 117.
The provenance of the cross is unknown. It was auctioned in Paris, on 11/12 June 1959 and listed in the catalogue of that auction as no. 173. Based on a photograph in the catalogue, the inscription was published in 1960 by Claude Mondésert. In 1961 it was recorded in the Bulletin épigraphique by Louis Robert.
The editors of the catalogue vaguely ascribed the object to Syria/Phoenicia or Egypt.
The precise identity of the 'saint John' is not specified, but John the Baptist is the most probable
Procession
Non Liturgical ActivityPrayer/supplication/invocation
Bequests, donations, gifts and offerings
Protagonists in Cult and NarrativesWomen
Cult Related ObjectsCrosses
Ex-votos
Bibliography
Edition:Mondésert, C., "Inscriptions et objects chrétiens de Syrie", Syria 37 (1960), 117.
For the catalogue, see: Antiques, céramiques de Grèce, des Iles, d'Egypte, d'Italie... bijoux d'or de Grèce, d'Egypte, de Syrie... verres de fouilles, figurines en argent... bronzes... sculptures et vases art chrétien, stéatites byzantines, pates de verres, empreintes, bijoux d'pr... vase en cristal de roche et or..., art d'Extrême-Orient...: Vente à Paris, H. Drouot, 11-12 juin 1959.
Reference works:
Bulletin épigraphique (1961), 71.
Paweł Nowakowski
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00020 | John the Baptist | Ἰωάννης | Uncertain | S00042 | John, the Apostle and Evangelist | Ἰωάννης | Uncertain |
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Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
Paweł Nowakowski, Cult of Saints, E02831 - http://csla.history.ox.ac.uk/record.php?recid=E02831