- Museum number
- Af1868,1001.17
- Description
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Processional cross; copper alloy. Cast in four parts: cross, shaft and two lower arms. The shaft with elaborate moulding around the base has a deep vertical slot into which the body of the cross sits, secured with two copper nails. Two oblong plates extend out from the shaft of the cross to which the lower arms are attached, each with three copper nails. The arms curve upwards and are joined to a finial cross on the body of the cross by a slot and copper nail. The lower arms are decorated with open work patterning, Ge'ez inscriptions and a finial cross.
- Production date
- 18thC
- Dimensions
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Height: 61.60 centimetres
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Width: 42.30 centimetres
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Depth: 7.20 centimetres
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
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The diamond shaped body of the cross is cast to produce an intricate open work central panel depicting; Mary and the infant Christ, Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel, to the left; Saint John baptising Christ and to the right; Saint John suckling from a gazelle. Around the central panel are open work cross motifs set within a framework of crosses. Above is the image of the Holy Trinity, three identical male figures surrounded by the four living creatures. The four edges of the cross are engraved with eleven crowned angels each with hand cross and censer. To the bottom right is a winged priest with turban and censer and Saint John in a tree with a bird. The outer edge is decorated with twenty seven finial crosses.
Back; the central panel is the same as the front with the exception that Mary, Christ and the two Archangels are shown from behind and a small fish appears beneath the scene depicting Christ's baptism in the river Jordan. Above is the Kwer'ata Re'esu, Christ crowned with thorns with two figures shown in profile, left and right mocking him. Engraved around the edge of the cross are fourteen crowned angels each with hand cross and censer.; to the bottom left Mary with halo and two figures look down at Elizabeth suckling the infant Saint John, below is Zachary [?].
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Part of a collection of material taken from the fortress of Emperor Tewodros II (reigned 1855-1868) at Maqdala during the Abyssinian Campaign (1867-1868). Tewodros had sought to bring the whole of Ethiopia under his control through military campaigns. During these conquests, he took books, holy relics and manuscripts from churches throughout Ethiopia, and particularly from Gondar, with the intention of establishing Maqdala as a seat of learning and research. By 1868, the treasury and church store included hundreds of manuscripts and many fine examples of liturgical objects and art including textiles, paintings, and metal work.
The British Expedition to Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) 1867-1868 culminated in a military assault on Maqdala on 13 April 1868. Tewodros committed suicide, rather than be taken prisoner. Hundreds of his soldiers were killed and many thousands injured. The treasury, church and royal household were plundered by the British and Indian troops. Maqdala was destroyed by military order on 17 April 1868. Much of the plundered material was reassembled by an Army Prize Committee and sold at an auction of loot on the nearby Delanta Plain, 20 – 21 April 1868.
Richard Holmes participated in the Abyssinia Expedition as ‘archaeologist’ and official representative of the British Museum. He was one of the first people to enter Maqdala with the military force. He participated directly in the plundering. He purchased objects from soldiers and at the official sale of loot on behalf of the British Museum.
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See Collection File Af1868,1001.1-32
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
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Exhibited:
2017-2018 2 Nov-8 Apr, BM Gallery 35, Living with gods
- Condition
- Very good
- Associated events
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Associated Event: Abyssinian Campaign 1867 - 1868
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Associated Event: Battle of Maqdala 13 April 1868
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Acquisition notes
- May have been purchased at the sale of loot on the Delanta Plain 20-21 April 1868; may have been looted by Holmes from Maqdala on 13 April 1868. Holmes purchased five crosses at the sale of loot, he did not describe them in detail. Holmes also took objects immediately after the British and Indian troops entered Maqdala. Most of these he was given permission by Sir Robert Napier (Commander in Chief of the Abyssinian Campaign) to keep, rather than hand over the Army Prize Committee for auction. In total, Holmes acquired six crosses for the British Museum from Maqdala. See letter from R Holmes to J Winter Jones, 22nd April 1868 (British Museum Central Archive, Original Papers Volume 94, April to July 1868, no.5376) and 'List of articles purchased for the British Museum at the sale of the plunder of Magdala 20 and 21 April 1868', R. Holmes (British Museum Central Archive, Original Papers Volume 94, April to July 1868).
- Department
- Africa, Oceania and the Americas
- Registration number
- Af1868,1001.17