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Octagonal Marriage Ring

7th century

Not on view

Jerusalem is a holy site for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. For Christians, it is revered as the site of Christ’s death and Resurrection. Since the fourth century, when Emperor Constantine I erected the Holy Sepulchre over Christ’s tomb, Christian pilgrims have thronged there, often acquiring memorials of their visit.
The bride and the groom on the face of the ring are identified in the inscription on the bezel: "Lord, help thy servants Peter and Theodote." On the band, events associated with sites in
the Holy Land evoke prayers for protection.

Octagonal Marriage Ring, Gold and niello — Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Octagonal Marriage Ring

Date: 7th century

Geography: Made in Constantinople (?)

Medium: Gold and niello

Dimensions: Diam: 7/8 in. (2.3 cm)

Classification: Metalwork

Credit Line: Byzantine Collection, Dumbarton Oaks, Washington, D.C. (BZ.1947.15)

Accession Number: isl344

The Met

Medieval Art and The Cloisters at The Met

The Museum's collection of medieval and Byzantine art is among the most comprehensive in the world, encompassing the art of the Mediterranean and Europe from the fall of Rome to the beginning of the Renaissance.