Byzantine crown
Type:
Crowns
Date:
1070s
Location or Findspot (Modern-Day Country):
Hungary
Dimensions:
Diameter of approximately 20 cm
Description:
The Byzantine emperor Michael VII Doukas (r. 1071–78) sent this crown (along with a bride named Synadene) as a diplomatic gift to Géza I, kral (king) of Hungary (r. 1074–77). The cloisonné enamel plaques include Greek labels and images of Christ, archangels, military and medical saints, and the emperor himself, flanked by Géza and Michael’s son and co-emperor, Constantine. The arrangement of the earthly figures parallels that of the heavenly figures on the front of the crown, suggesting that Michael fulfills a Christ-like role on earth. The crown is too large for the average head and may have been designed for suspension above an altar. It is now known as the Holy Crown of Hungary.
Relevant Textbook Chapter(s):
6
Repository and Online Resources:
• See more views of the crown on the Magyar Képek (Hungarian Pictures) website.
Image Credits:
Károly Szelényi
