Folia archeologica 22.

Zsuzsa S. Lovag: Byzantine Type Reliquary Pectoral Crosses in the Hungarian National Museum

RELIQUARY PECTORAL CROSSES 163 fixed with nails. He is no longer wearing the colobium hut he has only a loin cloth on reaching to the knees. The titulus above his head reads: 1С XC. In the medallions at the ends of the cross arms are the busts of the Virgin and St. John in relief, the inscriptions belonging to these are under the arms of Christ. In the top medallion is the bust of a bearded older man w ith a moustache, there is a halo around his head. The reading of the inscription is uncertain, probably NI(K)OLA. In the centre of the reverse is the Virgin, she holds the Christ Child in her arm, their initials are engraved on both sides. In the top and side medallions there are busts rendered schematically, with indecipherable inscriptions. The gilding of the cross remained only in traces, namely on the sides and on the loop for suspension. H.: 11 cm; W.: 8 cm; H. of the suspension loop 3,7 cm. It was bestowed on the Museum, the circumstances of finding unknown. Obverse of a reliquary cross (Fig. j. no. i), provenance unknown. (Inv. no. 1874. 171. 42. - as for the inscription v. Appendix 4.) In form and general composition related to the observe of the former cross, with the top hinge loop broken. The protuberant parts are badly worn, on the background however the gilding remained. The titulus over the head of Christ reads: 1С XC. Under his arms the inscriptions, namely the abbreviation of the Virgin's name and IONA, belong to the side busts. H. : 9,4 cm, W. : 7,2 cm. Acquired by means of purchase, circumstances of finding unknown. Obverse of a reliquary cross (Fig. /. no. 2) from Székesfehérvár. (Inv. no.: 1894. 2. 6.) Its form and representation are closely related to the former ones. Badly worn, without any traces of gilding and inscriptions. H.

: 9,3 cm; W. : 6,7 cm. Acquired by means of purchase, circumstances of finding unknown. Obverse of a reliquary pectoral cross (Fig. j. no. j) from Rákospalota. (Inv. no. 1880. 164. 5.) Its form and representation are similar to the former ones. Badly worn, the top hinge loop is missing, a piece from the lower arm is broken. The titulus over the head of Christ reads : 1С XC, over and under his arms traces of inscriptions, now indecipherable. H.: 8,6 cm; W. : 6,7 cm. It was bestowed on theMuseum, said to come to light at Rákospalota, together with hair pins of the sixteenth century, fragments of iron fittings and textile remains. The above described four crosses belong to one of the earliest Kiev types, assigned to the eleventh and twelfth centuries by Korzukhina.

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3 Their engraved inscriptions are in Cyrillic letters mixed with Greek ones. Similar crosses are known beyond the borders of Russia as well from Eastern European sites.

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3 Ibid. 133. 4

4 Kondakov, N. P., op. cit. Figs. 28-29.; Kbanenko, B. I., and V. N., Drevnosti Russkiia. Krcsti i obrazki. (Kiev 1899) Pl. V. nos. 56-61.; Korz'ikbina, . GF., Russkic klady. 130., Pl. L. no. 12.; Korzfikhina, G. F., О pamiatnikah ... Pl. II. nos. 2-3.; Vlasova, G, M., Bronzovye izdeliia XI-XIII. vv. iz sela Zelentche. Materialy po arkheologii Scvernogo Pritchemomoria. IV. (Odessa 1962) 254., Pl. 5. nos. 1-8.; Iakobson, A. L., Novyi pamiatnik rannesrednevekovoi arkhitektury V Krimu. KSIA99(i964) 69.; Miialev

, K. R., op. cit. 49., Fig. 64.; Radojcic, S., op. cit. 129-130.