Skip to main content
Please enable JavaScript in your web browser to get the best experience.
Menu
Main navigation
Visit
Toggle Visit submenu
Back
to previous menu
—
Visit
—
Visit
—
Family visits
—
Group visits
—
Audio app
—
Out-of-hours tours
—
Tours and talks
—
Object trails
—
Accessibility
—
Food and drink
—
Late opening on Fridays
—
Museum map
Exhibitions and events
Collection
Toggle Collection submenu
Back
to previous menu
—
Collection
—
Collection
—
Collection online
—
Galleries
—
Blog
—
The British Museum podcast
Learn
Toggle Learn submenu
Back
to previous menu
—
Learn
—
Learn
—
Schools
—
Communities
—
Adult learning
—
Young people
Membership
Toggle Membership submenu
Back
to previous menu
—
Membership
—
Membership
—
Renew Membership
—
Events
—
Buy Membership
—
Renew Gift Membership
—
Existing Members
—
Buy Under 26 Membership
—
Upgrade your Membership
—
How your money helps
—
Buy Gift Membership
—
Visiting as a Member
—
Members' Room
Support us
Toggle Support us submenu
Back
to previous menu
—
Support us
—
Donate
—
Corporate support
—
Become a Patron
—
Supporter case studies
—
Become a Volunteer
—
Existing Patrons
—
Leave a legacy
—
American Friends of the British Museum
Secondary navigation
Shop
Search
Donate
Hide menu
pectoral cross
Object Type
pectoral cross
Museum number
1949,1203.1
Description
Pectoral cross; gold; with loop and expanding arms which terminate in oval medallions; these contain, in low relief, personifications of the Sun and Moon, the Virgin, St John and the soldiers casting lots; in the centre Christ crucified; letters above his head; reverse, open-work ornament once enamelled; on top, a broad fluted ring for attachment.
Cultures/periods
Early Byzantine
Production date
6thC-7thC
Materials
gold
enamel
(lost)
Technique
cast
relief
Dimensions
Length:
79 millimetres
(with loop)
$Inscriptions
Bibliographic references
Tait 1976 / Jewellery Through 7000 Years
(356)
Tonnochy 1950 / A Byzantine Pectoral Cross
Kent & Painter 1977 / Wealth of the Roman World. Gold and Silver, AD 300-700
(162)
Daim 2010 / Byzanz: Prach und Alltag
(171)
Location
On display
(G41/dc13)
Exhibition history
Exhibited: 2010 26 Feb-13 Jun, Germany, Bonn, Kunst and Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Byzantium: Splendour and Daily Life
Subjects
soldier
saint/martyr
crucifixion
moon
cross
sun/moon
Associated names
Representation of:
Sun
Representation of:
Moon
Representation of:
Jesus Christ
Representation of:
Virgin Mary
Representation of:
St John the Evangelist
Acquisition name
Purchased from:
Nicolas Koutoulakis
Acquisition date
1949
Department
Britain, Europe and Prehistory
Registration number
1949,1203.1
Conservation
Treatment
: 23 Aug 2002