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Hezilo Cross

German (Hildesheim)

before 1079

Not on view

In the center of the cross is a small compartment that opens to reveal a relic of Christ. Its cover depicts Christ with his arms outstretched in prayer, a figure known as an orant. The compartment is a fourteenthcentury addition; the relic was originally kept at the base of the cross’s shaft. The preciousness of the materials adorning the cross reflects the spiritual significance of the relic it contains.

Hezilo Cross, Gold, copper, pearls, and gems; wood core covered with silk, German (Hildesheim) — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Hezilo Cross

Date: before 1079

Culture: German (Hildesheim)

Medium: Gold, copper, pearls, and gems; wood core covered with silk

Dimensions: Overall: 9 9/16 x 7 9/16 in. (24.3 x 19.2 cm)

Classification: Metalwork-Gold

Credit Line: Dom-Museum Hildesheim, on loan from the collegiate church Zum Heiligen Kreuz in Hildesheim (DS L 113)

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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.