- This Bronze Cross was hand forged during the Middle Ages in the cradle of Christianity, the Byzantine Empire. The front side of this cross is decorated with 5 punched-dots, which represented the "Five Wounds of Christ." In AD 324, the first Christian Roman Emperor, Constantine the Great, transferred the Eastern Roman Empire capital to Byzantium which became Constantinople, known as "New Rome." The Byzantine Empire became centered on the capital of Constantinople and was ruled by Emperors in direct succession to the ancient Roman Emperors. With the eventual decline of Rome, the Church of Constantinople became the richest and most influential center of the Christian world. The reign of Justinian the Great in 527-565 marked a blossoming of Byzantine culture with a building program that yielded such masterpieces as the cathedral church of the Holy Wisdom of God, Hagia Sophia. Justinian, who is considered a Saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church, created the authority of this Church, which firmly established Christianity throughout the Empire. The Byzantines, who still referred to themselves as Romans, fought to shield Europe from Muslim expansion and were one of the most powerful economic, cultural and military forces in Europe and Asia Minor, existing for more than 1,000 years, until 1453. This one of a kind bronze cross was surely worn by a Byzantine citizen as a statement of faith during this amazing age of early Christendom. - See last picture as a parallel: https://www.lostgalleon.com/4379-Byzantine-Five-Wounds-Cross.html Registered shipping. Provenance/Known History: Ex. Private UK collection. Collected before 1970. After that A.A. Gallery, UK. Important information: - Due to new custom regulations we can no longer ship outside the E.U. Please make sure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. - A declaration of authenticity by my shop is provided with this lot. - Please do not pay for a won item before you are finished bidding in the auction. The system will not be able to combine your orders into one shipping if all items aren't paid at once.