The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of February 2, 2023

Phylactery (Reliquary Penant)

c. 500–700

Byzantium, Egypt or Syria, early Byzantine period, 6th-8th centuries

Copper alloy

Diameter: 3.2 cm (1 1/4 in.); Overall: 7.8 cm (3 1/16 in.)

Gift of Bruce Ferrini in memory of Robert P. Bergman 1999.237

Location

105 Byzantine

Fun Fact

This was gifted to the museum in memory of Robert P. Bergman, former director of the museum and medievalist.

Description

Made in the 500s, this Byzantine phylactery, or personal reliquary, was meant to be worn around the neck on a chain. It is fashioned of bronze and still contains its original linen-wrapped relic.

Citations
Cleveland Museum of Art, “Cleveland Museum of Art Acquires Rare Chinese Paintings, Baroque Porcelain Plaque and Other New Acquisitions Exhibited with Hanging Scrolls,” December 20, 1999, Cleveland Museum of Art Archives. archive.org
Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1999.237