The Attarouthi Treasure - Chalice
The surface of this cup is marked with stars and crosses, alongside a Greek inscription reading, "Of Saint John of the village of Tarothis." The stars likely refer to the Star of Bethlehem that announced Christ’s birth, while the crosses evoke the manner of his death. These symbols would have been magnified by the chalice’s role during the Eucharist, when it held the wine that commemorated Christ’s life and sacrifice.
Artwork Details
- Title: The Attarouthi Treasure - Chalice
- Date: 500–650
- Geography: Made in Attarouthi, Syria
- Culture: Byzantine
- Medium: Silver and gilded silver
- Dimensions: Overall: 8 1/8 × 5 7/8 in., 12.7oz. (20.7 × 14.9 cm, 360g)
Diam. of foot: 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm)
Diam. of knop: 1 9/16 in. (3.9 cm)
Capacity of cup: 1100 ml - Classification: Metalwork-Silver
- Credit Line: Purchase, Rogers Fund and Henry J. and Drue E. Heinz Foundation, Norbert Schimmel, and Lila Acheson Wallace Gifts, 1986
- Object Number: 1986.3.9
- Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters
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