Reliquary in the Shape of a Sarcophagus

Byzantine

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 300

Holes in the lids of sarcophagus-shaped reliquaries, as seen here, allowed the faithful to insert cloth attached to narrow rods into the reliquary in order to absorb the power of the relic through contact. Alternatively, oil was poured through the hole and collected by means of a second hole in the base in containers brought by the faithful.

Reliquary in the Shape of a Sarcophagus, Marble, Byzantine

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Reliquary in the Shape of a Sarcophagus, Marble, Byzantine
Reliquary in the Shape of a Sarcophagus, Marble, Byzantine
Reliquary in the Shape of a Sarcophagus, Marble, Byzantine
Reliquary in the Shape of a Sarcophagus, Marble, Byzantine
Reliquary in the Shape of a Sarcophagus, Marble, Byzantine
Reliquary in the Shape of a Sarcophagus, Marble, Byzantine
Reliquary in the Shape of a Sarcophagus, Marble, Byzantine
Reliquary in the Shape of a Sarcophagus, Marble, Byzantine

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