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Source Description
This cross would have been placed on the altar and used by priests for blessing the faithful. Its woodcarved center depicts the Crucifixion on one side and Christ's Baptism on the other. The top and bottom arms contain images of the four evangelists. The Crucifixion is flanked by Saints Constantine and Helen (the mother of Emperor Constantine is believed to have discovered in 326 the True Cross near Jerusalem). Beside the Baptism are two unidentified saints. With the small domes and crosses on its top, the frame resembles a church building. An inscription round the base explains that the cross was presented as a gift to a church dedicated to Saint Nicholas.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
29188
label
Altar Cross
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
2
Source metadata
id
29188
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Altar Cross
description
This cross would have been placed on the altar and used by priests for blessing the faithful. Its woodcarved center depicts the Crucifixion on one side and Christ's Baptism on the other. The top and bottom arms contain images of the four evangelists. The Crucifixion is flanked by Saints Constantine and Helen (the mother of Emperor Constantine is believed to have discovered in 326 the True Cross near Jerusalem). Beside the Baptism are two unidentified saints. With the small domes and crosses on its top, the frame resembles a church building. An inscription round the base explains that the cross was presented as a gift to a church dedicated to Saint Nicholas.
provenance
Henry Walters, Baltimore, [date of acquisition unknown] by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
1730 (Early Modern)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Wood
crosses (objects)
imageCount
2
pageCount
2
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
20.7
height
10.1
dimensionsRaw
H: 8 1/8 x W: 4 in. (20.7 x 10.1 cm)
Source extras
cul
Orthodox
style
Post-Byzantine
inscriptions
[Transcription] Around the base: + Ἐκοσμίθι ὄθις σταβρὸς δι᾿ ἐξόδου Καταφίγις μοναχῆς κὲ ἴνε τοῦ Ἁγίου Νικολάου τοῦ Θαματοίργου. 1730 [+ Ἐκοσμήθη οὕτος σταυρὸς δι᾿ ἐξόδου Καταφύγης μοναχῆς καὶ εἶναι τοῦ Ἁγίου Νικολάου τοῦ Θαυματούργου. 1730]; [Translation]: This cross was decorated at the expense of the nun Kataphyge and belongs to [the Church of] Saint Nicholas the Miracle-Worker
1730.
med
boxwood, silver, enamel
creator_ids
6256
collection_ids
MED
BYZ
exhibition_ids
none
Page inventory
seq
1
type
photo
mediaId
8e06e80237cd96dc
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
2
type
photo
mediaId
115ae51cad2782ef
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no