Cleveland Museum of Art

Necklace with Pendants

Date

500s

Medium

gold, garnets

Culture

Byzantium, Constantinople?, early Byzantine period, 6th century

Department

Medieval Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

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. 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.

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