Byzantium, Constantinople?, early Byzantine period, 6th century / 500s
Necklace with Pendants
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Necklace with Pendants as metalwork (Byzantium, Constantinople?, early Byzantine period, 6th century · 500s).
Just as some of us wear jewelry associated with our particular faith, the original owner of this necklace proudly wore this cross a symbol of their Christian beliefs.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this metalwork as gold, garnets.
The museum's collection notes: Wearing richly decorated gold necklaces such as this one was a common practice among members of Byzantium’s upper classes. In addition to their use as personal adornments and symbols of social status, necklaces with cross pendants and capsules containing relics were also believed to function as powerful protective devices. Here, two hexagonal gold cylinders that may have enclosed either magical texts or holy substances flank a cross pendant on either side.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtNecklace with PendantsOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.