ChX003
Early bronze bust of a man with a cross on the head
Early Byzantine Period: 4th - 7th century AD.
Height: 9.2 cm. (3 1/8 in.)
Perfect condition. Attachment hole at base. Fine red and green patina. Mounted.
$ 12,500
The bust of a young man emerging out of a foliate base, wearing a Phrygian hat decorated at the back with tendril scrolls. The elongated face with rounded features and large eyes, framed with heavy hair locks. Over the forehead there is a cross, framed in a circle.
The cross has a loop on top, which makes it “crux monogrammatica” – a cross combined with the Greek letter rho (P), was the most popular symbol of Christ and Christianity in the 4th – early 5th century AD.
For encircled monogram cross: Cf. Israeli Y., and Mevorah D., - Jerusalem 2000, p.121 (on a lamp); Buckton, D., BM-1994, fig 5, p.29.
Israeli Y., and Mevorah D., - Jerusalem 2000
Israeli Y., and Mevorah D., editors, Cradle of Christianity, Exh. cat., The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 2000
Buckton, D., BM-1994
Buckton, D., editor, Byzantium. Treasures of Byzantine Art and Culture from British Collections, British Museum Press, London, 1994
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