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Source Description
This flask is decorated with images of Christ, the Virgin, and two military saints (Sergios and Bacchos?), represented with the soft, voluminous drapery and staring eyes typical of the art of Byzantine Syria. The inscription tells how the donors, Megale and her family, gave this flask in fulfillment of a vow and for the eternal salvation of departed souls. The flask, the original lid and chain of which are now lost, was probably used to hold consecrated oil for the rite of baptism, or for the anointing of the sick or dying.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
23798
label
Oil Flask
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
23798
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Oil Flask
description
This flask is decorated with images of Christ, the Virgin, and two military saints (Sergios and Bacchos?), represented with the soft, voluminous drapery and staring eyes typical of the art of Byzantine Syria. The inscription tells how the donors, Megale and her family, gave this flask in fulfillment of a vow and for the eternal salvation of departed souls. The flask, the original lid and chain of which are now lost, was probably used to hold consecrated oil for the rite of baptism, or for the anointing of the sick or dying.
provenance
[Excavated in Syria, 1908-1910]; Tawfic Abucasem, Hama and Port Said, ca. 1913, by purchase; Joseph Brummer, Paris, ca. 1928, by purchase; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1929, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
late 6th century (Late Antique)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Gold, Silver & Jewelry
flasks
imageCount
1
pageCount
1
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
22.3
height
5.8
dimensionsRaw
H: 8 3/4 x Diam: 2 5/16 in. (22.3 x 5.8 cm); Diam at base: 2 5/16 in. (5.9 cm); Diam of outer spout: 7/8 in. (2.2 cm)
Source extras
cul
Byzantine
inscriptions
[Transcription] + Ὑπὲρ εὐχῆς καὶ σωτηρίας Μεγάλης / + καὶ τν αὐτῆς τέκνων καὶ ἀνεψιῶ(ν) κα(ὶ) / ὑπὲρ ἀναπαύσεως Ἡλιοδώρου καὶ Ἀκακίου.; [Translation] + For the prayer and salvation of Megale and of her children and nephews
and for the repose of the soul of Heliodorus and Acacius.
med
silver
creator_ids
6640
collection_ids
BYZ
exhibition_ids
358
2289
2699
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
129aa697dfa75bb3