Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid. A carved bone Latin cross pendant dating to the Byzantine / Crusader period. The front is decorated with a series of incised circular motifs, arranged symmetrically around a larger central roundel. The reverse side is plain, the cross is complete with an integral suspension loop. The cross will be delivered on a modern leather jewellery cord, perfect for modern wear and easy to remove if preferred. Size: ± 53,1 x 23,4 mm Condition: good solid condition. Surface wear and minor irregularities, consistent with age and use. An evocative devotional object, closely associated with early Christian tradition during the Byzantine and Crusader era. Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) is available upon request for lots with a hammer price of €100 or higher. The Latin cross, characterised by a long vertical shaft intersected by a shorter horizontal arm positioned above the centre, appears in Christian art towards the end of Late Antiquity. Its distinctive proportions came to represent Christianity and Christendom as a whole. Many medieval churches were designed according to the Latin cross plan; when viewed from above, the ground plan mirrors this form. One of the earliest and most influential examples in Europe is Old St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, begun around 319 AD. During the first centuries AD, Christian symbols were worshipped and worn discreetly. After Christianity was adopted as the official religion of the Roman Empire in 380 AD, the cross became a prominent and openly displayed symbol. It offered comfort and spiritual reassurance in times of hardship, particularly during the Crusades and the recurrent pandemics that affected medieval Europe. To this day, Christians continue to wear crosses and sacred pendants close to the heart as tangible expressions of faith and of God’s presence in their lives.