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Bloodstone Cameo with Saint George
1000–1100
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland, United States
Bearing the image of Saint George, one of the Byzantine Empire’s most popular saints, this cameo served as a powerful devotional and protective device. Close physical contact with a holy image was believed to enhance its effectiveness, creating a strong bond between the worshipper and the devotional object. Originally worn around the neck, this cameo was easily kissed and touched in moments of distress or crisis. Bloodstone was also believed to carry magical medicinal powers to stop hemorrhages and increase blood circulation.
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Details
- Title: Bloodstone Cameo with Saint George
- Date Created: 1000–1100
- Physical Dimensions: Overall: 3.2 x 2.8 x 1.4 cm (1 1/4 x 1 1/8 x 9/16 in.)
- Provenance: Ducal Museum, Gotha, Germany, (Richard H. Zinser, Forest Hills, NY, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art), The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
- Type: Glyptic
- Rights: CC0
- External Link: https://clevelandart.org/art/1959.41
- Medium: bloodstone
- Inscriptions: Greek inscription on either side of the head.
- Fun Fact: Legends about bravery can be comforting in times of distress. The wearer of this cameo, for example, may have thought about the fearlessness of Saint George in his battle against the dragon.
- Department: Medieval Art
- Culture: Byzantium, Contantinople, Byzantine period, 11th century
- Credit Line: Dudley P. Allen Fund
- Collection: MED - Byzantine
- Accession Number: 1959.41
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