Steatite icon of St. George
Date:
Twelfth or thirteenth century
Location or Findspot (Modern-Day Country):
Turkey
Medium:
Steatite
Dimensions:
3.9 × 3.1 × 0.8 cm
Description:
This steatite enkolpion, or breast pendant, features St. George, whose name is inscribed in Greek on either side of his neck. He appears in military dress, holding his shield and sword. Although such items were desirable for soldiers, even civilians might seek the military saint's general protection. George was a popular figure on enkolpia and sometimes appeared alongside Theodore, Demetrios, or other military saints. Steatite is a very soft stone and many surviving works are now broken or extremely worn.
Relevant Textbook Chapter(s):
8
Repository and Online Resources:
• This item is now at Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, DC. See this and other items carved in steatite on the Kornbluth Photography website.
Image Credits:
Genevra Kornbluth
