Decorative Glass Medallion in the British Museum,…
Decorative Glass Medallion in the British Museum,…
Ivory Panel in the British Museum, May 2014
Detail of an Ivory Panel in the British Museum, Ma…
Detail of an Ivory Panel in the British Museum, Ma…
Detail of an Ivory Panel in the British Museum, Ma…
18th Century Marble Head of Julius Caesar in the B…
Terracotta Group of Two Seated Women Perhaps Demet…
Two Bronze Cymbals with an Inscription in the Brit…
Stone Slab with Nine Inscribed Depressesions, Perh…
Bust of Zeus in the British Museum, May 2014
Terracotta Model of a Priest in a Processional Car…
Bronze Relief of a Boar Being Led to Sacrifice by…
Ionic Capital and Column Drum from the Mausoleum o…
Antefix with Palmette Attached to a Roof Tile from…
Roman Corinthian Capital from Delos in the British…
Molossian Hound in the British Museum, May 2014
Molossian Hound in the British Museum, May 2014
Detail of the Molossian Hound in the British Museu…
Sardonyx Cameo Perhaps with Julia Domna as the God…
Letter to Candidus in the British Museum, May 2014
Letter to Flavius Cerealis in the British Museum,…
Mirror with Herakles Attempting to Abduct the Nymp…
Decorative Glass Medallion in the British Museum,…
Terracotta Statuettes of African Boxers in the Bri…
Detail of the Marble Grave Stele of Exakestes in t…
Marble Grave Stele of Exakestes in the British Mus…
Beneficent Demon in the British Museum, April 2013
Bronze Leg of a Couch in the Form of an Elephant H…
Model of Portable Charcoal Oven in Glazed Terracot…
Bronze Hanging Lamp with Silver Inlay in the Briti…
Marble Memorial to a Soldier Named Ares in the Bri…
The Portland Vase in the British Museum, April 201…
The Portland Vase in the British Museum, April 201…
The Portland Vase in the British Museum, April 201…
Detail of The Portland Vase in the British Museum,…
The Portland Vase in the British Museum, April 201…
Terracotta Baby Swaddled in a Cradle in the Britis…
Detail of a Capital of a Column from the Agora of…
Capital of a Column from the Agora of Salamis on C…
Monkey Playing a Harp in the British Museum, April…
Terracotta Figure of a Woman Holding Double Pipes…
Persephone Statuette in the British Museum, April…
Terracotta Figure of a Dwarf Boxer in the British…
Child Using a Walking Aid in the British Museum, A…
See also...
Keywords
Authorizations, license
-
Visible by: Everyone -
All rights reserved
-
753 visits
Decorative Glass Medallion in the British Museum, May 2014
Gold Glass Medallion
Late Roman / Early Christian, 4th century AD
Probably from the catacombs in Rome
M&ME 1898,7-19,1
Prehistory and Europe
A married couple with Christ
This gold-glass 'medallion' bears the busts of a man and woman are encircled by a plain border and inscription. The beardless man has short curly hair and wears a toga contabulata. The stripe on his right shoulder is a symbol of rank. The woman's hairstyle was favoured by empresses in the fourth century: it is drawn back in plaits and coiled on the top of her head, leaving a row of curls across her forehead. Her robe has been engraved with spirals to suggest a rich fabric. She wears earrings and a pearl and gem necklace. Between the two figures a youthful man dressed in a cloak and tunic holds wreaths over their heads.
The inscription reads: DULCIS ANIMA VIVAS ('Sweetheart, may you live [long]'). The medallion would have originally decorated the base of bowl made as a wedding present.
We know that the small figure represents Christ as similar images on other bowls are actually inscribed with His name. The man and woman, then, although they are clearly as aristocratic as the couple on the gold-glass medallion showing Herakles also in The British Museum, were Christians rather than pagans. In the Late Antique period, old and new religions were often practised side by side.
D. Buckton (ed.), Byzantium: treasures of Byzant (London, The British Museum Press, 1994)
Text from: www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/pe_mla/g/gold-glass_medallion.aspx
Late Roman / Early Christian, 4th century AD
Probably from the catacombs in Rome
M&ME 1898,7-19,1
Prehistory and Europe
A married couple with Christ
This gold-glass 'medallion' bears the busts of a man and woman are encircled by a plain border and inscription. The beardless man has short curly hair and wears a toga contabulata. The stripe on his right shoulder is a symbol of rank. The woman's hairstyle was favoured by empresses in the fourth century: it is drawn back in plaits and coiled on the top of her head, leaving a row of curls across her forehead. Her robe has been engraved with spirals to suggest a rich fabric. She wears earrings and a pearl and gem necklace. Between the two figures a youthful man dressed in a cloak and tunic holds wreaths over their heads.
The inscription reads: DULCIS ANIMA VIVAS ('Sweetheart, may you live [long]'). The medallion would have originally decorated the base of bowl made as a wedding present.
We know that the small figure represents Christ as similar images on other bowls are actually inscribed with His name. The man and woman, then, although they are clearly as aristocratic as the couple on the gold-glass medallion showing Herakles also in The British Museum, were Christians rather than pagans. In the Late Antique period, old and new religions were often practised side by side.
D. Buckton (ed.), Byzantium: treasures of Byzant (London, The British Museum Press, 1994)
Text from: www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/pe_mla/g/gold-glass_medallion.aspx
- Keyboard shortcuts:
Jump to top
RSS feed- Latest comments - Subscribe to the comment feeds of this photo
- ipernity © 2007-2024
- Help & Contact
|
Club news
|
About ipernity
|
History |
ipernity Club & Prices |
Guide of good conduct
Donate | Group guidelines | Privacy policy | Terms of use | Statutes | In memoria -
Facebook
Twitter
Sign-in to write a comment.