Belt with the Monogram of Christ

Object belonging

One's own

Category

Bronze sculpture

City

Rome

Location

Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia

Specific location

Store

Inventory

PV 09598

Material and technique

Bronze

Author

Paleochristian School

Dating

4th-5th century

Dimensions

8.4 x 59.2 cm.

Origin

Castel S. Angelo (1936)

Image copyright

SSPSAE e per il Polo Museale della città di Roma

Short description

This bronze Christian belt consists of eleven parts joined together by twenty-one tiny stylized crosses, one of which is missing. Each part is decorated in the centre by either a flower, in five of the sections, or a monogram with the name of Jesus, in six of the parts. The monogram of Christ, “Chrismon”, was used by Christians because the two Greek letters of which it consists, Chi and Ro, were the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ. It is not clear who would have worn a belt that bore the name of Christ in such ostentatious fashion. The bronze may have been used for special occasions, perhaps during a liturgical celebration or religious rite.

Pietro Cannata

Bibliography

Unpublished