The Attarouthi Treasure - Censer

Unknown

500–650 · Silver and gilded silver with copper liner · Medieval Art

With a youthful Christ with a cruciform halo, two archangels, and crosses Inscribed in Greek: Of Saint John of the village of Attaroutha In early images of Christ he is always shown as a youth with short, curly hair. His halo is cruciform with three arms to represent the cross upon which he died. The flanking medallions containing archangels, the guardians of heaven, suggest that here Christ is shown in heaven.

Artist

Unknown

Date

500–650

Medium

Silver and gilded silver with copper liner

Culture

Byzantine

Department

Medieval Art

Credit line

Purchase, Rogers Fund and Henry J. and Drue E. Heinz Foundation, Norbert Schimmel, and Lila Acheson Wallace Gifts, 1986