Al Kowsky Posted October 1 · Member Share Posted October 1 The enkolpion was the most popular reliquary pendant throughout the Byzantine Empire. They were always worn under clothing not to be seen by the Iconoclasts. They were made of gold, silver, & bronze, the bronze enkolpia being the least expensive. They had engraved designs of saints, Apostles, Jesus Christ, & Mary. They were made in two separate pieces with the interior hollowed out, hinged on the top & bottom, & a bale attached on the top so they could be worn by a chain or fiber cable. The interior would hold something sacred to the owner such as: a sample of earth from a sacred place, a sample of hair from a loved one, a tiny prayer written on cloth or papyrus, etc. The most prized enkolpia are the ones that have not been broken apart after burial. Unfortunately many enkolpia have been opened by curious people to see what is inside them, usually breaking the bottom hinge ☹️. The enkolpion pictured below depicts Saint John on one side & Mother Mary on the other, it's 110 mm long & dates 9th-11th century. Pictured below is an enkolpion I had CNG auction for me, it depicts Jesus Christ on one side & Mother Mary on the other. It's about the same size & age as the top example, unfortunately it was pried open by a previous owner & the bottom hinge broke. Pictured below is another enkolpion from my collection, the same age as the other two, 78 mm long, & depicts Jesus Christ with a cross above his head, & Mother Mary on the other side. Pictured below is a rare & unusual silver devotional cross made in America during the 19th century. It is hollow to contain & dispense holly water. The cover can be removed for refilling & when set in place can be twisted one way or the other to release holy water through the small holes in the cover or closed so no water will leak out. Stamped in tiny micro letters on the cover is PAT APL FOR. Both sides are hand engraved with an area on one side left blank for a monogram, 3.45 in. long. I often wondered if it was ever used in an exorcism 🤔? Website members are welcome to post any ancient or antique devotional crosses in their collection, or add anything relevant to this thread ☺️. 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAZ Numismatics Posted October 1 · Member Share Posted October 1 Those are extremely interesting, Al, thanks for sharing. I have no artifacts at the moment, so I'll share a follis of Michael VII Ducas. To my knowledge, he was the only ruler in history that received a nickname that had to do with coinage. He was known as Parapinakes, or “minus a quarter” – which referred to the devaluation of Byzantine currency under his rule. Michael VII Ducas, AD 1071-1078. AE Follis, 25mm, 4.1g, 6; Constantinople mint. Obv.: Nimbate bust of Christ facing, wearing pallium and colobus, holding book of Gospels; star to either side. Rev.: MIXAHΛ RACIA O Δ; Bearded bust of Michael VII facing, wearing crown and loros and holding labarum and globus cruciger. Ref.: SB 1878. 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Kowsky Posted October 1 · Member Author Share Posted October 1 1 hour ago, JAZ Numismatics said: Those are extremely interesting, Al, thanks for sharing. I have no artifacts at the moment, so I'll share a follis of Michael VII Ducas. To my knowledge, he was the only ruler in history that received a nickname that had to do with coinage. He was known as Parapinakes, or “minus a quarter” – which referred to the devaluation of Byzantine currency under his rule. Michael VII Ducas, AD 1071-1078. AE Follis, 25mm, 4.1g, 6; Constantinople mint. Obv.: Nimbate bust of Christ facing, wearing pallium and colobus, holding book of Gospels; star to either side. Rev.: MIXAHΛ RACIA O Δ; Bearded bust of Michael VII facing, wearing crown and loros and holding labarum and globus cruciger. Ref.: SB 1878. JAZ., Thanks for posting the excellent photo of this handsome coin, the patina enhances its eye appeal 😉. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ominus1 Posted October 2 · Patron Share Posted October 2 (edited) ..i have a few crosses...i have one less because i let my son in law, whose a Methodist preacher, pick one out...(bottom right one)...Hey good 2 C ya @JAZ Numismatics 🙂 Edited October 2 by ominus1 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Kowsky Posted October 3 · Member Author Share Posted October 3 4 hours ago, ominus1 said: ..i have a few crosses...i have one less because i let my son in law, whose a Methodist preacher, pick one out...(bottom right one)...Hey good 2 C ya @JAZ Numismatics 🙂 ominus1, Thanks for posting your tray of artifacts ☺️. I'm sure your son in law was happy with the cross you gave him 😉. The large cross in the center looks especially interesting, could you take a close-up photo of that cross, both sides 🤔? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ominus1 Posted October 3 · Patron Share Posted October 3 1 hour ago, Al Kowsky said: The large cross in the center looks especially interesting, could you take a close-up photo of that cross, both sides 🤔? ..i can...when i get another camera Al...:) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ominus1 Posted yesterday at 03:35 PM · Patron Share Posted yesterday at 03:35 PM On 10/2/2024 at 8:31 PM, Al Kowsky said: could you take a close-up photo of that cross, both sides 🤔? ..i'm waiting for another camera Al...this ones coming from Fla...so ....:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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