#skel: constantine

[dominushq]

❝ “Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil!—Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore. ❞

KANISHK WELLESLEY-MITTAL is a TWENTY-ONE year old MATERIALS SCIENCE student at TRINITY COLLEGE in the University of Oxford. HE is in his FOURTH YEAR of studies.

DESCRIPTION

You were born into gold. Your cot was lined with gold, and it is with gold that the shroud that will one day deliver you back to the Earth has already been woven. It is not gold that impresses you, but human hands, complex minds that shape senseless metallic lumps into intricate art. Gold is earthly and temporary, and you are carelessly derelict to the duties that by birth are assigned to you. Instead you gaze upon the sun, you gaze upon the stars, and behind all that exists is a question, a history, a mystery—and it is your destiny to deliver answers. Yet you only answer questions that others do not ask, and you perceive signs where others see nothing. This commitment to destiny has made you eccentric, myopic and superstitious in the eyes of others.

Two paths had lain in front of you: one carved for you by privilege, the other by merit. If there are those who strive to merge these two paths into one, but you are of the belief that they are innately irreconcilable. The other path innately requires agreement that bloodline and dynasty are the highest qualities one can hold, and the quest of knowledge has long been burdened by those who seek only connections and titles. Those who, in their entitlement, deprive others more deserving of opportunities, who contribute minimally in the effort they extend into the philosophy. You think yourself the greatest prosecutor of this rhetoric of reunification and you do not hesitate to make your disagreements known; it is poison and you will burn it at its roots.

CONNECTIONS

You, CAESAR, and JUSTINIAN were given the same choice between the two paths. CAESAR chose wealth and power over knowledge, and you did not fault him for it, but it didn’t mean you had to tolerate him either. His rhetorics of reunification disgusted you, and JUSTINIAN’s agreement provoked you to disgust someone who was once a peer. To your chagrin, the death of CAESAR has not killed his ideas. It is up to you, then, to commit this final murder of CAESAR.

The members of Sodalitas are little more than decorated shells, glimmering façades with little substance. MESSALINA seems to you the worst offender of them all. You have crossed numerous paths with them, your family inhabits the same social circles, and yet you do not know them well and you have no desire to know them further. They seem shallow to you, insubstantial. Maybe if you got to know them, you would change your mind, but for now they are the prime example to you as to why the two societies ought never to reunite.

There is no one who embodies all that Pandidakterion stands for as much as IRENE. Except sometimes you wonder if they do not take the ideology a little too radically. They purport that all of humanity has equal right to knowledge—that it must not be kept to a chosen few, whether these few are qualified by merit or bloodline. In truth, the world is unprepared for this knowledge, would not know what to do with it, would view those who partake in it with nothing but disgust. You keep a close eye on her, just in case.

FACECLAIM: Avan Jogia

This character’s tag can be found here.

BIOGRAPHY

One shoulder bore the weight of his mother’s legacy—the illustrious Lady Elizabeth Wellesley, a daughter of the notable Duke of Wellington and a Princess of Prussia, descended from Kaiser Wilhelm II, and, in turn, Queen Victoria. The other shoulder bore the weight of his father’s—not any more lacking in grandeur, Ashok Mittal, the heir of one of the wealthiest families in the United Kingdom, the son of the King of Steel, now a magnate in his own right, driving the chariot in his hands, president of the world’s largest steel manufacturing company. The weight pinned him down to the Earth and duty drew lashes on his skin as he fell to his knees. The paths that lay in front of him have always been illusions of freedom; interweaving paths that crawled to the same destination, and really, what use was resistance? What use was struggle?

And so he followed this path passively: he allowed his mother to shape him, to enter him into Eton and mold him as young men of his birth ought to be molded. She had no titles and neither would he inherit any, and so he would never stand among the House of Lords, but he could stand still with the House of Commons, could rise even to Prime Minister, she posited day through to night. His father, meanwhile, cajoled him towards a different direction. He honed and sharpened what he deemed to be acumen for business, a ruthlessness, an instinct for blood and power, the necessary skills to one day succeed him.

Kanishk took to business as he did politics—that is, he performed pallidly, limply, and disappointed his parents in every turn. He barely bothered to mingle with his peers in Eton, instead burying his nose in books of history and myth, fascinated by the rituals of old, twisted his tongue in Latin and Greek in order to invoke a muse before a daunting task, in order to submerge himself in Homer’s wine dark sea and kiln-fired earth. He cared little for spending time with the social circles of his mother, caring more for the time of the night when the Bengali woman tasked to care for him would recount him the epics of the old, the tales of the avatars as they appeared on Earth, and with her he contemplated the boundless universe as it existed all at once. In his trips with his father, he cared little for the sleek skyscrapers and the men in lush suits, instead begging for more time at the steel mills, to gaze upon the glowing orange of the forge, his shy exterior exploding into wondrous enthusiasm when it came time to ask the scientists questions.

Even as a worthier contender arose—his darling sister, Visakha, who untrained and unshaped had desired so deeply that which he cared so little for, displaying with great potency a proficiency and an affinity for the skills required to navigate both business and politics, the very same skills that Kanishk so weakly attempted to emulate out of obligation—it was he who they hailed their prince, he who they still expect to one day take the reins. It strains on their relations, but there is no other who understands Kanishk as well as Visakha, no other who he trusts or admires as ardently, and if there comes to be power in his hands, then the only good use for it would be to pave the path to allow Visakha to claim the empire that she deserves. What was once disinterest curled sourly into disdain. He grew to despise this same system which privileged him but denied his sister. Shyness and deference blossomed into anger, into passion in every pursuit.

Oxford was an easy choice for him. His study of Materials Science was acceptable to his parents, still under the spell that it might be to understand their industry better, still priming to take the position from his father one day—and they could believe what they wished to believe, but Kanishk studied materials science because the scientists at the mills had filled him with an insatiable curiosity, and together with his interest in an ancient world long gone he had found his niche in Trinity College, where there were tutors present who expressly dealt in this intersection of ancient materials. To the world outside it still seemed as though he was traveling these paths that led to one destination, but Kanishk knew now that he wanted nothing more than a life in pursuit of answers, of knowledge, a life submerged in the academic where since childhood he had exceeded, even stood out—affirmed when, one day, he was approached with an offer. His mother had told him of Sodalitas, even if in vague whispers. She was a member herself. He had received an offer, and this he met with disinterest. It was the invitation from Pandidakterion that filled him with glee, and with Pandidakterion he discovered a home unlike any other. Others to share this passion with, a society so deeply embedded into history itself.

[animalstours]

Regional Museum of History

14.1. RELIQUARY

Gold, emeralds, sapphires, inlayed garnets 3,8 x 6,5 x 4,5 cm; 227,5 g

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

Inv. Ill – 768

14.2. BOX

Silver 9,3 x 10 x 5,6 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

14.3. BOX

Alabaster 15,5 x 22,4 x 15,5 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

15. RELIQUARY

Asia Minor

Second half of the 4th century Silver

L. 4,8 cm; w. 3 cm; h. 2,8 cm

Inscriptions in Greek: on the lid: OMO NOIA (concordance, harmony); next to Jesus and each of the saints presented: IHC OYC HE TP OC, nAT AOC, AN APE AC, OIA[I]HnOC, [IO]Y[A]AC, IAK OB OC, MAOEOC, [BAPOOAOM]E[0]C, JOAN NIC – Jesus, Peter, Paul, Andrew, Philip, Judas, Jacob, Mathew, Bartholomew, John.

Found accidentally in the foundations of a building, possibly a basilica, in the village of Yabalkovo, Haskovo region, in 1930. According to its discoverer bulgaria tour, the silver reliquary was lying in a ceramic container also inscribed, and yet lost before coming to the Museum.

Relief representations of St. St. Constantine the Great and Elena on both sides of a Latin cross on the lid, and Jesus Christ surrounded by nine of his Apostles on the walls of the container.

16. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 4th – 5th century Silver

L. 9,5 cm; max. w. 5 cm; h. 4 cm

Discovered during archaeological excavations of a basilica in Eleshnichka Banya, next to the village of Eleshnitsa, Blagoevgrad region

The silver reliquary was lying in a marble container shaped as a sarcophagus, NIAM – BAS, Inv. N 3767.

17. RELIQUARY

Syria (?)

Late 4th – early 5th century (ca. 363 – 408 AD) Silver gilt

L. 8 cm; w. 8 cm; h. 7 cm

The front wall bears a hammered relief of Chi – Rho monogram, and the Greek letters of A and O be-tween the X hastae. A Chi – Rho monogram was engraved on the backside, and also the Greek letters of A and O below the cross arms.

The reliquary was discovered between two skel-etons in Tomb 3 near the southwest corner, by the apse of the earliest St. Sophia Church in Sofia (Ser- dica) in 1893, during the excavations of Bogdan Filov, It contained remains of decayed cloth and three worn copper coins probably of the sons of Constantine the Great (ca. mid 4th c.).

18. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 5th – 6th century Marble 13 cm; w. 8,2 cm; h. 13,5 cm

Discovered accidentally in a field in 1899, in a brick tomb about 1 m deep, in the altar of Basilica N 5 in Hisar (ancient Diodetianopolis), Plovdiv region.

19. RELIQUARY Syria or Italy (?) 5th – 6th century Ceramics

L. 17,5 cm; w. 11,5 cm; h. 8 cm

Inscription, beginning with a cross and terminat-ing in an ivy leaf, rims along the four walls incised in Latin before baking:

Here are the relics of St. Apostle Thomas and Arch-bishop Babyla and the three infants

An accidental find while ploughing afield next to the village of Perivol, Kyustendil region in 1931. Today Perivol is annexed to the village ofDragov- ishtitsa, Sofia region.

[travelandtravel]

Regional Museum of History

14.1. RELIQUARY

Gold, emeralds, sapphires, inlayed garnets 3,8 x 6,5 x 4,5 cm; 227,5 g

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

Inv. Ill – 768

14.2. BOX

Silver 9,3 x 10 x 5,6 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

14.3. BOX

Alabaster 15,5 x 22,4 x 15,5 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

15. RELIQUARY

Asia Minor

Second half of the 4th century Silver

L. 4,8 cm; w. 3 cm; h. 2,8 cm

Inscriptions in Greek: on the lid: OMO NOIA (concordance, harmony); next to Jesus and each of the saints presented: IHC OYC HE TP OC, nAT AOC, AN APE AC, OIA[I]HnOC, [IO]Y[A]AC, IAK OB OC, MAOEOC, [BAPOOAOM]E[0]C, JOAN NIC – Jesus, Peter, Paul, Andrew, Philip, Judas, Jacob, Mathew, Bartholomew, John.

Found accidentally in the foundations of a building, possibly a basilica, in the village of Yabalkovo, Haskovo region, in 1930. According to its discoverer bulgaria tour, the silver reliquary was lying in a ceramic container also inscribed, and yet lost before coming to the Museum.

Relief representations of St. St. Constantine the Great and Elena on both sides of a Latin cross on the lid, and Jesus Christ surrounded by nine of his Apostles on the walls of the container.

16. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 4th – 5th century Silver

L. 9,5 cm; max. w. 5 cm; h. 4 cm

Discovered during archaeological excavations of a basilica in Eleshnichka Banya, next to the village of Eleshnitsa, Blagoevgrad region

The silver reliquary was lying in a marble container shaped as a sarcophagus, NIAM – BAS, Inv. N 3767.

17. RELIQUARY

Syria (?)

Late 4th – early 5th century (ca. 363 – 408 AD) Silver gilt

L. 8 cm; w. 8 cm; h. 7 cm

The front wall bears a hammered relief of Chi – Rho monogram, and the Greek letters of A and O be-tween the X hastae. A Chi – Rho monogram was engraved on the backside, and also the Greek letters of A and O below the cross arms.

The reliquary was discovered between two skel-etons in Tomb 3 near the southwest corner, by the apse of the earliest St. Sophia Church in Sofia (Ser- dica) in 1893, during the excavations of Bogdan Filov, It contained remains of decayed cloth and three worn copper coins probably of the sons of Constantine the Great (ca. mid 4th c.).

18. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 5th – 6th century Marble 13 cm; w. 8,2 cm; h. 13,5 cm

Discovered accidentally in a field in 1899, in a brick tomb about 1 m deep, in the altar of Basilica N 5 in Hisar (ancient Diodetianopolis), Plovdiv region.

19. RELIQUARY Syria or Italy (?) 5th – 6th century Ceramics

L. 17,5 cm; w. 11,5 cm; h. 8 cm

Inscription, beginning with a cross and terminat-ing in an ivy leaf, rims along the four walls incised in Latin before baking:

Here are the relics of St. Apostle Thomas and Arch-bishop Babyla and the three infants

An accidental find while ploughing afield next to the village of Perivol, Kyustendil region in 1931. Today Perivol is annexed to the village ofDragov- ishtitsa, Sofia region.

[festravels]

Regional Museum of History

14.1. RELIQUARY

Gold, emeralds, sapphires, inlayed garnets 3,8 x 6,5 x 4,5 cm; 227,5 g

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

Inv. Ill – 768

14.2. BOX

Silver 9,3 x 10 x 5,6 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

14.3. BOX

Alabaster 15,5 x 22,4 x 15,5 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

15. RELIQUARY

Asia Minor

Second half of the 4th century Silver

L. 4,8 cm; w. 3 cm; h. 2,8 cm

Inscriptions in Greek: on the lid: OMO NOIA (concordance, harmony); next to Jesus and each of the saints presented: IHC OYC HE TP OC, nAT AOC, AN APE AC, OIA[I]HnOC, [IO]Y[A]AC, IAK OB OC, MAOEOC, [BAPOOAOM]E[0]C, JOAN NIC – Jesus, Peter, Paul, Andrew, Philip, Judas, Jacob, Mathew, Bartholomew, John.

Found accidentally in the foundations of a building, possibly a basilica, in the village of Yabalkovo, Haskovo region, in 1930. According to its discoverer bulgaria tour, the silver reliquary was lying in a ceramic container also inscribed, and yet lost before coming to the Museum.

Relief representations of St. St. Constantine the Great and Elena on both sides of a Latin cross on the lid, and Jesus Christ surrounded by nine of his Apostles on the walls of the container.

16. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 4th – 5th century Silver

L. 9,5 cm; max. w. 5 cm; h. 4 cm

Discovered during archaeological excavations of a basilica in Eleshnichka Banya, next to the village of Eleshnitsa, Blagoevgrad region

The silver reliquary was lying in a marble container shaped as a sarcophagus, NIAM – BAS, Inv. N 3767.

17. RELIQUARY

Syria (?)

Late 4th – early 5th century (ca. 363 – 408 AD) Silver gilt

L. 8 cm; w. 8 cm; h. 7 cm

The front wall bears a hammered relief of Chi – Rho monogram, and the Greek letters of A and O be-tween the X hastae. A Chi – Rho monogram was engraved on the backside, and also the Greek letters of A and O below the cross arms.

The reliquary was discovered between two skel-etons in Tomb 3 near the southwest corner, by the apse of the earliest St. Sophia Church in Sofia (Ser- dica) in 1893, during the excavations of Bogdan Filov, It contained remains of decayed cloth and three worn copper coins probably of the sons of Constantine the Great (ca. mid 4th c.).

18. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 5th – 6th century Marble 13 cm; w. 8,2 cm; h. 13,5 cm

Discovered accidentally in a field in 1899, in a brick tomb about 1 m deep, in the altar of Basilica N 5 in Hisar (ancient Diodetianopolis), Plovdiv region.

19. RELIQUARY Syria or Italy (?) 5th – 6th century Ceramics

L. 17,5 cm; w. 11,5 cm; h. 8 cm

Inscription, beginning with a cross and terminat-ing in an ivy leaf, rims along the four walls incised in Latin before baking:

Here are the relics of St. Apostle Thomas and Arch-bishop Babyla and the three infants

An accidental find while ploughing afield next to the village of Perivol, Kyustendil region in 1931. Today Perivol is annexed to the village ofDragov- ishtitsa, Sofia region.

[religiontour]

Regional Museum of History

14.1. RELIQUARY

Gold, emeralds, sapphires, inlayed garnets 3,8 x 6,5 x 4,5 cm; 227,5 g

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

Inv. Ill – 768

14.2. BOX

Silver 9,3 x 10 x 5,6 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

14.3. BOX

Alabaster 15,5 x 22,4 x 15,5 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

15. RELIQUARY

Asia Minor

Second half of the 4th century Silver

L. 4,8 cm; w. 3 cm; h. 2,8 cm

Inscriptions in Greek: on the lid: OMO NOIA (concordance, harmony); next to Jesus and each of the saints presented: IHC OYC HE TP OC, nAT AOC, AN APE AC, OIA[I]HnOC, [IO]Y[A]AC, IAK OB OC, MAOEOC, [BAPOOAOM]E[0]C, JOAN NIC – Jesus, Peter, Paul, Andrew, Philip, Judas, Jacob, Mathew, Bartholomew, John.

Found accidentally in the foundations of a building, possibly a basilica, in the village of Yabalkovo, Haskovo region, in 1930. According to its discoverer bulgaria tour, the silver reliquary was lying in a ceramic container also inscribed, and yet lost before coming to the Museum.

Relief representations of St. St. Constantine the Great and Elena on both sides of a Latin cross on the lid, and Jesus Christ surrounded by nine of his Apostles on the walls of the container.

16. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 4th – 5th century Silver

L. 9,5 cm; max. w. 5 cm; h. 4 cm

Discovered during archaeological excavations of a basilica in Eleshnichka Banya, next to the village of Eleshnitsa, Blagoevgrad region

The silver reliquary was lying in a marble container shaped as a sarcophagus, NIAM – BAS, Inv. N 3767.

17. RELIQUARY

Syria (?)

Late 4th – early 5th century (ca. 363 – 408 AD) Silver gilt

L. 8 cm; w. 8 cm; h. 7 cm

The front wall bears a hammered relief of Chi – Rho monogram, and the Greek letters of A and O be-tween the X hastae. A Chi – Rho monogram was engraved on the backside, and also the Greek letters of A and O below the cross arms.

The reliquary was discovered between two skel-etons in Tomb 3 near the southwest corner, by the apse of the earliest St. Sophia Church in Sofia (Ser- dica) in 1893, during the excavations of Bogdan Filov, It contained remains of decayed cloth and three worn copper coins probably of the sons of Constantine the Great (ca. mid 4th c.).

18. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 5th – 6th century Marble 13 cm; w. 8,2 cm; h. 13,5 cm

Discovered accidentally in a field in 1899, in a brick tomb about 1 m deep, in the altar of Basilica N 5 in Hisar (ancient Diodetianopolis), Plovdiv region.

19. RELIQUARY Syria or Italy (?) 5th – 6th century Ceramics

L. 17,5 cm; w. 11,5 cm; h. 8 cm

Inscription, beginning with a cross and terminat-ing in an ivy leaf, rims along the four walls incised in Latin before baking:

Here are the relics of St. Apostle Thomas and Arch-bishop Babyla and the three infants

An accidental find while ploughing afield next to the village of Perivol, Kyustendil region in 1931. Today Perivol is annexed to the village ofDragov- ishtitsa, Sofia region.

[kazanlaktravels]

Regional Museum of History

14.1. RELIQUARY

Gold, emeralds, sapphires, inlayed garnets 3,8 x 6,5 x 4,5 cm; 227,5 g

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

Inv. Ill – 768

14.2. BOX

Silver 9,3 x 10 x 5,6 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

14.3. BOX

Alabaster 15,5 x 22,4 x 15,5 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

15. RELIQUARY

Asia Minor

Second half of the 4th century Silver

L. 4,8 cm; w. 3 cm; h. 2,8 cm

Inscriptions in Greek: on the lid: OMO NOIA (concordance, harmony); next to Jesus and each of the saints presented: IHC OYC HE TP OC, nAT AOC, AN APE AC, OIA[I]HnOC, [IO]Y[A]AC, IAK OB OC, MAOEOC, [BAPOOAOM]E[0]C, JOAN NIC – Jesus, Peter, Paul, Andrew, Philip, Judas, Jacob, Mathew, Bartholomew, John.

Found accidentally in the foundations of a building, possibly a basilica, in the village of Yabalkovo, Haskovo region, in 1930. According to its discoverer bulgaria tour, the silver reliquary was lying in a ceramic container also inscribed, and yet lost before coming to the Museum.

Relief representations of St. St. Constantine the Great and Elena on both sides of a Latin cross on the lid, and Jesus Christ surrounded by nine of his Apostles on the walls of the container.

16. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 4th – 5th century Silver

L. 9,5 cm; max. w. 5 cm; h. 4 cm

Discovered during archaeological excavations of a basilica in Eleshnichka Banya, next to the village of Eleshnitsa, Blagoevgrad region

The silver reliquary was lying in a marble container shaped as a sarcophagus, NIAM – BAS, Inv. N 3767.

17. RELIQUARY

Syria (?)

Late 4th – early 5th century (ca. 363 – 408 AD) Silver gilt

L. 8 cm; w. 8 cm; h. 7 cm

The front wall bears a hammered relief of Chi – Rho monogram, and the Greek letters of A and O be-tween the X hastae. A Chi – Rho monogram was engraved on the backside, and also the Greek letters of A and O below the cross arms.

The reliquary was discovered between two skel-etons in Tomb 3 near the southwest corner, by the apse of the earliest St. Sophia Church in Sofia (Ser- dica) in 1893, during the excavations of Bogdan Filov, It contained remains of decayed cloth and three worn copper coins probably of the sons of Constantine the Great (ca. mid 4th c.).

18. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 5th – 6th century Marble 13 cm; w. 8,2 cm; h. 13,5 cm

Discovered accidentally in a field in 1899, in a brick tomb about 1 m deep, in the altar of Basilica N 5 in Hisar (ancient Diodetianopolis), Plovdiv region.

19. RELIQUARY Syria or Italy (?) 5th – 6th century Ceramics

L. 17,5 cm; w. 11,5 cm; h. 8 cm

Inscription, beginning with a cross and terminat-ing in an ivy leaf, rims along the four walls incised in Latin before baking:

Here are the relics of St. Apostle Thomas and Arch-bishop Babyla and the three infants

An accidental find while ploughing afield next to the village of Perivol, Kyustendil region in 1931. Today Perivol is annexed to the village ofDragov- ishtitsa, Sofia region.

[goodaytours]

Regional Museum of History

14.1. RELIQUARY

Gold, emeralds, sapphires, inlayed garnets 3,8 x 6,5 x 4,5 cm; 227,5 g

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

Inv. Ill – 768

14.2. BOX

Silver 9,3 x 10 x 5,6 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

14.3. BOX

Alabaster 15,5 x 22,4 x 15,5 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

15. RELIQUARY

Asia Minor

Second half of the 4th century Silver

L. 4,8 cm; w. 3 cm; h. 2,8 cm

Inscriptions in Greek: on the lid: OMO NOIA (concordance, harmony); next to Jesus and each of the saints presented: IHC OYC HE TP OC, nAT AOC, AN APE AC, OIA[I]HnOC, [IO]Y[A]AC, IAK OB OC, MAOEOC, [BAPOOAOM]E[0]C, JOAN NIC – Jesus, Peter, Paul, Andrew, Philip, Judas, Jacob, Mathew, Bartholomew, John.

Found accidentally in the foundations of a building, possibly a basilica, in the village of Yabalkovo, Haskovo region, in 1930. According to its discoverer bulgaria tour, the silver reliquary was lying in a ceramic container also inscribed, and yet lost before coming to the Museum.

Relief representations of St. St. Constantine the Great and Elena on both sides of a Latin cross on the lid, and Jesus Christ surrounded by nine of his Apostles on the walls of the container.

16. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 4th – 5th century Silver

L. 9,5 cm; max. w. 5 cm; h. 4 cm

Discovered during archaeological excavations of a basilica in Eleshnichka Banya, next to the village of Eleshnitsa, Blagoevgrad region

The silver reliquary was lying in a marble container shaped as a sarcophagus, NIAM – BAS, Inv. N 3767.

17. RELIQUARY

Syria (?)

Late 4th – early 5th century (ca. 363 – 408 AD) Silver gilt

L. 8 cm; w. 8 cm; h. 7 cm

The front wall bears a hammered relief of Chi – Rho monogram, and the Greek letters of A and O be-tween the X hastae. A Chi – Rho monogram was engraved on the backside, and also the Greek letters of A and O below the cross arms.

The reliquary was discovered between two skel-etons in Tomb 3 near the southwest corner, by the apse of the earliest St. Sophia Church in Sofia (Ser- dica) in 1893, during the excavations of Bogdan Filov, It contained remains of decayed cloth and three worn copper coins probably of the sons of Constantine the Great (ca. mid 4th c.).

18. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 5th – 6th century Marble 13 cm; w. 8,2 cm; h. 13,5 cm

Discovered accidentally in a field in 1899, in a brick tomb about 1 m deep, in the altar of Basilica N 5 in Hisar (ancient Diodetianopolis), Plovdiv region.

19. RELIQUARY Syria or Italy (?) 5th – 6th century Ceramics

L. 17,5 cm; w. 11,5 cm; h. 8 cm

Inscription, beginning with a cross and terminat-ing in an ivy leaf, rims along the four walls incised in Latin before baking:

Here are the relics of St. Apostle Thomas and Arch-bishop Babyla and the three infants

An accidental find while ploughing afield next to the village of Perivol, Kyustendil region in 1931. Today Perivol is annexed to the village ofDragov- ishtitsa, Sofia region.

[religiontravels]

Regional Museum of History

14.1. RELIQUARY

Gold, emeralds, sapphires, inlayed garnets 3,8 x 6,5 x 4,5 cm; 227,5 g

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

Inv. Ill – 768

14.2. BOX

Silver 9,3 x 10 x 5,6 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

14.3. BOX

Alabaster 15,5 x 22,4 x 15,5 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

15. RELIQUARY

Asia Minor

Second half of the 4th century Silver

L. 4,8 cm; w. 3 cm; h. 2,8 cm

Inscriptions in Greek: on the lid: OMO NOIA (concordance, harmony); next to Jesus and each of the saints presented: IHC OYC HE TP OC, nAT AOC, AN APE AC, OIA[I]HnOC, [IO]Y[A]AC, IAK OB OC, MAOEOC, [BAPOOAOM]E[0]C, JOAN NIC – Jesus, Peter, Paul, Andrew, Philip, Judas, Jacob, Mathew, Bartholomew, John.

Found accidentally in the foundations of a building, possibly a basilica, in the village of Yabalkovo, Haskovo region, in 1930. According to its discoverer bulgaria tour, the silver reliquary was lying in a ceramic container also inscribed, and yet lost before coming to the Museum.

Relief representations of St. St. Constantine the Great and Elena on both sides of a Latin cross on the lid, and Jesus Christ surrounded by nine of his Apostles on the walls of the container.

16. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 4th – 5th century Silver

L. 9,5 cm; max. w. 5 cm; h. 4 cm

Discovered during archaeological excavations of a basilica in Eleshnichka Banya, next to the village of Eleshnitsa, Blagoevgrad region

The silver reliquary was lying in a marble container shaped as a sarcophagus, NIAM – BAS, Inv. N 3767.

17. RELIQUARY

Syria (?)

Late 4th – early 5th century (ca. 363 – 408 AD) Silver gilt

L. 8 cm; w. 8 cm; h. 7 cm

The front wall bears a hammered relief of Chi – Rho monogram, and the Greek letters of A and O be-tween the X hastae. A Chi – Rho monogram was engraved on the backside, and also the Greek letters of A and O below the cross arms.

The reliquary was discovered between two skel-etons in Tomb 3 near the southwest corner, by the apse of the earliest St. Sophia Church in Sofia (Ser- dica) in 1893, during the excavations of Bogdan Filov, It contained remains of decayed cloth and three worn copper coins probably of the sons of Constantine the Great (ca. mid 4th c.).

18. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 5th – 6th century Marble 13 cm; w. 8,2 cm; h. 13,5 cm

Discovered accidentally in a field in 1899, in a brick tomb about 1 m deep, in the altar of Basilica N 5 in Hisar (ancient Diodetianopolis), Plovdiv region.

19. RELIQUARY Syria or Italy (?) 5th – 6th century Ceramics

L. 17,5 cm; w. 11,5 cm; h. 8 cm

Inscription, beginning with a cross and terminat-ing in an ivy leaf, rims along the four walls incised in Latin before baking:

Here are the relics of St. Apostle Thomas and Arch-bishop Babyla and the three infants

An accidental find while ploughing afield next to the village of Perivol, Kyustendil region in 1931. Today Perivol is annexed to the village ofDragov- ishtitsa, Sofia region.

[travelbg]

Regional Museum of History

14.1. RELIQUARY

Gold, emeralds, sapphires, inlayed garnets 3,8 x 6,5 x 4,5 cm; 227,5 g

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

Inv. Ill – 768

14.2. BOX

Silver 9,3 x 10 x 5,6 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

14.3. BOX

Alabaster 15,5 x 22,4 x 15,5 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

15. RELIQUARY

Asia Minor

Second half of the 4th century Silver

L. 4,8 cm; w. 3 cm; h. 2,8 cm

Inscriptions in Greek: on the lid: OMO NOIA (concordance, harmony); next to Jesus and each of the saints presented: IHC OYC HE TP OC, nAT AOC, AN APE AC, OIA[I]HnOC, [IO]Y[A]AC, IAK OB OC, MAOEOC, [BAPOOAOM]E[0]C, JOAN NIC – Jesus, Peter, Paul, Andrew, Philip, Judas, Jacob, Mathew, Bartholomew, John.

Found accidentally in the foundations of a building, possibly a basilica, in the village of Yabalkovo, Haskovo region, in 1930. According to its discoverer bulgaria tour, the silver reliquary was lying in a ceramic container also inscribed, and yet lost before coming to the Museum.

Relief representations of St. St. Constantine the Great and Elena on both sides of a Latin cross on the lid, and Jesus Christ surrounded by nine of his Apostles on the walls of the container.

16. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 4th – 5th century Silver

L. 9,5 cm; max. w. 5 cm; h. 4 cm

Discovered during archaeological excavations of a basilica in Eleshnichka Banya, next to the village of Eleshnitsa, Blagoevgrad region

The silver reliquary was lying in a marble container shaped as a sarcophagus, NIAM – BAS, Inv. N 3767.

17. RELIQUARY

Syria (?)

Late 4th – early 5th century (ca. 363 – 408 AD) Silver gilt

L. 8 cm; w. 8 cm; h. 7 cm

The front wall bears a hammered relief of Chi – Rho monogram, and the Greek letters of A and O be-tween the X hastae. A Chi – Rho monogram was engraved on the backside, and also the Greek letters of A and O below the cross arms.

The reliquary was discovered between two skel-etons in Tomb 3 near the southwest corner, by the apse of the earliest St. Sophia Church in Sofia (Ser- dica) in 1893, during the excavations of Bogdan Filov, It contained remains of decayed cloth and three worn copper coins probably of the sons of Constantine the Great (ca. mid 4th c.).

18. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 5th – 6th century Marble 13 cm; w. 8,2 cm; h. 13,5 cm

Discovered accidentally in a field in 1899, in a brick tomb about 1 m deep, in the altar of Basilica N 5 in Hisar (ancient Diodetianopolis), Plovdiv region.

19. RELIQUARY Syria or Italy (?) 5th – 6th century Ceramics

L. 17,5 cm; w. 11,5 cm; h. 8 cm

Inscription, beginning with a cross and terminat-ing in an ivy leaf, rims along the four walls incised in Latin before baking:

Here are the relics of St. Apostle Thomas and Arch-bishop Babyla and the three infants

An accidental find while ploughing afield next to the village of Perivol, Kyustendil region in 1931. Today Perivol is annexed to the village ofDragov- ishtitsa, Sofia region.

[privatetrip]

Regional Museum of History

14.1. RELIQUARY

Gold, emeralds, sapphires, inlayed garnets 3,8 x 6,5 x 4,5 cm; 227,5 g

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

Inv. Ill – 768

14.2. BOX

Silver 9,3 x 10 x 5,6 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

14.3. BOX

Alabaster 15,5 x 22,4 x 15,5 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

15. RELIQUARY

Asia Minor

Second half of the 4th century Silver

L. 4,8 cm; w. 3 cm; h. 2,8 cm

Inscriptions in Greek: on the lid: OMO NOIA (concordance, harmony); next to Jesus and each of the saints presented: IHC OYC HE TP OC, nAT AOC, AN APE AC, OIA[I]HnOC, [IO]Y[A]AC, IAK OB OC, MAOEOC, [BAPOOAOM]E[0]C, JOAN NIC – Jesus, Peter, Paul, Andrew, Philip, Judas, Jacob, Mathew, Bartholomew, John.

Found accidentally in the foundations of a building, possibly a basilica, in the village of Yabalkovo, Haskovo region, in 1930. According to its discoverer bulgaria tour, the silver reliquary was lying in a ceramic container also inscribed, and yet lost before coming to the Museum.

Relief representations of St. St. Constantine the Great and Elena on both sides of a Latin cross on the lid, and Jesus Christ surrounded by nine of his Apostles on the walls of the container.

16. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 4th – 5th century Silver

L. 9,5 cm; max. w. 5 cm; h. 4 cm

Discovered during archaeological excavations of a basilica in Eleshnichka Banya, next to the village of Eleshnitsa, Blagoevgrad region

The silver reliquary was lying in a marble container shaped as a sarcophagus, NIAM – BAS, Inv. N 3767.

17. RELIQUARY

Syria (?)

Late 4th – early 5th century (ca. 363 – 408 AD) Silver gilt

L. 8 cm; w. 8 cm; h. 7 cm

The front wall bears a hammered relief of Chi – Rho monogram, and the Greek letters of A and O be-tween the X hastae. A Chi – Rho monogram was engraved on the backside, and also the Greek letters of A and O below the cross arms.

The reliquary was discovered between two skel-etons in Tomb 3 near the southwest corner, by the apse of the earliest St. Sophia Church in Sofia (Ser- dica) in 1893, during the excavations of Bogdan Filov, It contained remains of decayed cloth and three worn copper coins probably of the sons of Constantine the Great (ca. mid 4th c.).

18. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 5th – 6th century Marble 13 cm; w. 8,2 cm; h. 13,5 cm

Discovered accidentally in a field in 1899, in a brick tomb about 1 m deep, in the altar of Basilica N 5 in Hisar (ancient Diodetianopolis), Plovdiv region.

19. RELIQUARY Syria or Italy (?) 5th – 6th century Ceramics

L. 17,5 cm; w. 11,5 cm; h. 8 cm

Inscription, beginning with a cross and terminat-ing in an ivy leaf, rims along the four walls incised in Latin before baking:

Here are the relics of St. Apostle Thomas and Arch-bishop Babyla and the three infants

An accidental find while ploughing afield next to the village of Perivol, Kyustendil region in 1931. Today Perivol is annexed to the village ofDragov- ishtitsa, Sofia region.

[bookingrooms]

Regional Museum of History

14.1. RELIQUARY

Gold, emeralds, sapphires, inlayed garnets 3,8 x 6,5 x 4,5 cm; 227,5 g

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

Inv. Ill – 768

14.2. BOX

Silver 9,3 x 10 x 5,6 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

14.3. BOX

Alabaster 15,5 x 22,4 x 15,5 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

15. RELIQUARY

Asia Minor

Second half of the 4th century Silver

L. 4,8 cm; w. 3 cm; h. 2,8 cm

Inscriptions in Greek: on the lid: OMO NOIA (concordance, harmony); next to Jesus and each of the saints presented: IHC OYC HE TP OC, nAT AOC, AN APE AC, OIA[I]HnOC, [IO]Y[A]AC, IAK OB OC, MAOEOC, [BAPOOAOM]E[0]C, JOAN NIC – Jesus, Peter, Paul, Andrew, Philip, Judas, Jacob, Mathew, Bartholomew, John.

Found accidentally in the foundations of a building, possibly a basilica, in the village of Yabalkovo, Haskovo region, in 1930. According to its discoverer bulgaria tour, the silver reliquary was lying in a ceramic container also inscribed, and yet lost before coming to the Museum.

Relief representations of St. St. Constantine the Great and Elena on both sides of a Latin cross on the lid, and Jesus Christ surrounded by nine of his Apostles on the walls of the container.

16. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 4th – 5th century Silver

L. 9,5 cm; max. w. 5 cm; h. 4 cm

Discovered during archaeological excavations of a basilica in Eleshnichka Banya, next to the village of Eleshnitsa, Blagoevgrad region

The silver reliquary was lying in a marble container shaped as a sarcophagus, NIAM – BAS, Inv. N 3767.

17. RELIQUARY

Syria (?)

Late 4th – early 5th century (ca. 363 – 408 AD) Silver gilt

L. 8 cm; w. 8 cm; h. 7 cm

The front wall bears a hammered relief of Chi – Rho monogram, and the Greek letters of A and O be-tween the X hastae. A Chi – Rho monogram was engraved on the backside, and also the Greek letters of A and O below the cross arms.

The reliquary was discovered between two skel-etons in Tomb 3 near the southwest corner, by the apse of the earliest St. Sophia Church in Sofia (Ser- dica) in 1893, during the excavations of Bogdan Filov, It contained remains of decayed cloth and three worn copper coins probably of the sons of Constantine the Great (ca. mid 4th c.).

18. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 5th – 6th century Marble 13 cm; w. 8,2 cm; h. 13,5 cm

Discovered accidentally in a field in 1899, in a brick tomb about 1 m deep, in the altar of Basilica N 5 in Hisar (ancient Diodetianopolis), Plovdiv region.

19. RELIQUARY Syria or Italy (?) 5th – 6th century Ceramics

L. 17,5 cm; w. 11,5 cm; h. 8 cm

Inscription, beginning with a cross and terminat-ing in an ivy leaf, rims along the four walls incised in Latin before baking:

Here are the relics of St. Apostle Thomas and Arch-bishop Babyla and the three infants

An accidental find while ploughing afield next to the village of Perivol, Kyustendil region in 1931. Today Perivol is annexed to the village ofDragov- ishtitsa, Sofia region.

[dominushq]

❝ I want God to look at me. I want to be the first to cauterize His clandestine wounds, to be the first beautiful thing He abandons Heaven for. ❞

[THEODORA] is a/an [AGE] year old [MAJOR] student at [COLLEGE] in the University of Oxford. [PRONOUNS] are in [pronoun] [#] year of studies.

DESCRIPTION

Fairy tales exist, and you are living proof of it. When people ask you where you come from, you’re honest about your origins: your family was dirt poor in a forgotten corner of the world that even God has turned His back from. You could have been swallowed up by the dredge and filth that surrounded you, but you said No and crawled your way up to the top with gritted teeth and hands that took and took until you finally had enough to feast on. With nothing but your wits about you, you made those glittering jewels that you so long envied in your youth yours. Now you’re with the best of the best, one of the chosen few among thousands. History is ripe for the taking and you need only step forward to be made worthy of something bigger than yourself.

So what if you lied? So what if you cheated? So what if, when push comes to shove, you’ll do anything and everything to make that dream of yours come true? Nobody can condemn you without condemning themselves first, because all you ever sought out to do was to level the playing field and take what should have been yours at the outset. People often forget that even a pretty little thing such as rose has thorns, and this is what people often forget when conversing with you. They underestimate you for someone of little consequence, forgetting the fact that you are your own artificer of your destiny.

CONNECTIONS

CAESAR didn’t really exist for you beyond the glimpses you’ve had of him during your groups’ parleys. At most times, you’d think of him as something like a god, some charismatic messiah sent down from Heaven to cure your two societies of the illness that has long plagued all of you. This festering, bitter rivalry will lead to nothing good, you’ve always reckoned, and CAESAR was the only one brave enough to give voice to this undeniable truth. Perhaps, with time, you too can be brave.

CALIGULA is a brute, you think. They might dress well and put on airs of someone noble and good, but you recognise what they are simply because you’ve been raised knowing full well how harsh the world can be. CALIGULA is nothing more than the monster in your fairytale, the big bad wolf who’s designed to devour you if you’re not careful enough. Being with them taxes you and you’d like to think that a happy ending means dealing with them in some form.

CONSTANTINE is a bit too judgemental. You don’t know why he’s so uptight about the whole thing. You could understand BASILIUS’ anger but not CONSTANTINE’s—and it’s this that puzzles you the most. An overture of friendship is something you’ve considered doing, CAESAR’s promises of a better future always at the back of your mind, and you like to think that you will succeed where he has not and convert CONSTANTINE to your cause.

SUGGESTED FACECLAIMS: Grace Hartzel, Ester Expósito, Seo Hyerin, Alton Mason, Adelaide Kane

Their character tag can be found here.

[tratravels]

Regional Museum of History

14.1. RELIQUARY

Gold, emeralds, sapphires, inlayed garnets 3,8 x 6,5 x 4,5 cm; 227,5 g

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

Inv. Ill – 768

14.2. BOX

Silver 9,3 x 10 x 5,6 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

14.3. BOX

Alabaster 15,5 x 22,4 x 15,5 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

15. RELIQUARY

Asia Minor

Second half of the 4th century Silver

L. 4,8 cm; w. 3 cm; h. 2,8 cm

Inscriptions in Greek: on the lid: OMO NOIA (concordance, harmony); next to Jesus and each of the saints presented: IHC OYC HE TP OC, nAT AOC, AN APE AC, OIA[I]HnOC, [IO]Y[A]AC, IAK OB OC, MAOEOC, [BAPOOAOM]E[0]C, JOAN NIC – Jesus, Peter, Paul, Andrew, Philip, Judas, Jacob, Mathew, Bartholomew, John.

Found accidentally in the foundations of a building, possibly a basilica, in the village of Yabalkovo, Haskovo region, in 1930. According to its discoverer bulgaria tour, the silver reliquary was lying in a ceramic container also inscribed, and yet lost before coming to the Museum.

Relief representations of St. St. Constantine the Great and Elena on both sides of a Latin cross on the lid, and Jesus Christ surrounded by nine of his Apostles on the walls of the container.

16. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 4th – 5th century Silver

L. 9,5 cm; max. w. 5 cm; h. 4 cm

Discovered during archaeological excavations of a basilica in Eleshnichka Banya, next to the village of Eleshnitsa, Blagoevgrad region

The silver reliquary was lying in a marble container shaped as a sarcophagus, NIAM – BAS, Inv. N 3767.

17. RELIQUARY

Syria (?)

Late 4th – early 5th century (ca. 363 – 408 AD) Silver gilt

L. 8 cm; w. 8 cm; h. 7 cm

The front wall bears a hammered relief of Chi – Rho monogram, and the Greek letters of A and O be-tween the X hastae. A Chi – Rho monogram was engraved on the backside, and also the Greek letters of A and O below the cross arms.

The reliquary was discovered between two skel-etons in Tomb 3 near the southwest corner, by the apse of the earliest St. Sophia Church in Sofia (Ser- dica) in 1893, during the excavations of Bogdan Filov, It contained remains of decayed cloth and three worn copper coins probably of the sons of Constantine the Great (ca. mid 4th c.).

18. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 5th – 6th century Marble 13 cm; w. 8,2 cm; h. 13,5 cm

Discovered accidentally in a field in 1899, in a brick tomb about 1 m deep, in the altar of Basilica N 5 in Hisar (ancient Diodetianopolis), Plovdiv region.

19. RELIQUARY Syria or Italy (?) 5th – 6th century Ceramics

L. 17,5 cm; w. 11,5 cm; h. 8 cm

Inscription, beginning with a cross and terminat-ing in an ivy leaf, rims along the four walls incised in Latin before baking:

Here are the relics of St. Apostle Thomas and Arch-bishop Babyla and the three infants

An accidental find while ploughing afield next to the village of Perivol, Kyustendil region in 1931. Today Perivol is annexed to the village ofDragov- ishtitsa, Sofia region.

[traveljobs]

Regional Museum of History

14.1. RELIQUARY

Gold, emeralds, sapphires, inlayed garnets 3,8 x 6,5 x 4,5 cm; 227,5 g

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

Inv. Ill – 768

14.2. BOX

Silver 9,3 x 10 x 5,6 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

14.3. BOX

Alabaster 15,5 x 22,4 x 15,5 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

15. RELIQUARY

Asia Minor

Second half of the 4th century Silver

L. 4,8 cm; w. 3 cm; h. 2,8 cm

Inscriptions in Greek: on the lid: OMO NOIA (concordance, harmony); next to Jesus and each of the saints presented: IHC OYC HE TP OC, nAT AOC, AN APE AC, OIA[I]HnOC, [IO]Y[A]AC, IAK OB OC, MAOEOC, [BAPOOAOM]E[0]C, JOAN NIC – Jesus, Peter, Paul, Andrew, Philip, Judas, Jacob, Mathew, Bartholomew, John.

Found accidentally in the foundations of a building, possibly a basilica, in the village of Yabalkovo, Haskovo region, in 1930. According to its discoverer bulgaria tour, the silver reliquary was lying in a ceramic container also inscribed, and yet lost before coming to the Museum.

Relief representations of St. St. Constantine the Great and Elena on both sides of a Latin cross on the lid, and Jesus Christ surrounded by nine of his Apostles on the walls of the container.

16. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 4th – 5th century Silver

L. 9,5 cm; max. w. 5 cm; h. 4 cm

Discovered during archaeological excavations of a basilica in Eleshnichka Banya, next to the village of Eleshnitsa, Blagoevgrad region

The silver reliquary was lying in a marble container shaped as a sarcophagus, NIAM – BAS, Inv. N 3767.

17. RELIQUARY

Syria (?)

Late 4th – early 5th century (ca. 363 – 408 AD) Silver gilt

L. 8 cm; w. 8 cm; h. 7 cm

The front wall bears a hammered relief of Chi – Rho monogram, and the Greek letters of A and O be-tween the X hastae. A Chi – Rho monogram was engraved on the backside, and also the Greek letters of A and O below the cross arms.

The reliquary was discovered between two skel-etons in Tomb 3 near the southwest corner, by the apse of the earliest St. Sophia Church in Sofia (Ser- dica) in 1893, during the excavations of Bogdan Filov, It contained remains of decayed cloth and three worn copper coins probably of the sons of Constantine the Great (ca. mid 4th c.).

18. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 5th – 6th century Marble 13 cm; w. 8,2 cm; h. 13,5 cm

Discovered accidentally in a field in 1899, in a brick tomb about 1 m deep, in the altar of Basilica N 5 in Hisar (ancient Diodetianopolis), Plovdiv region.

19. RELIQUARY Syria or Italy (?) 5th – 6th century Ceramics

L. 17,5 cm; w. 11,5 cm; h. 8 cm

Inscription, beginning with a cross and terminat-ing in an ivy leaf, rims along the four walls incised in Latin before baking:

Here are the relics of St. Apostle Thomas and Arch-bishop Babyla and the three infants

An accidental find while ploughing afield next to the village of Perivol, Kyustendil region in 1931. Today Perivol is annexed to the village ofDragov- ishtitsa, Sofia region.

[traqtravels]

Regional Museum of History

14.1. RELIQUARY

Gold, emeralds, sapphires, inlayed garnets 3,8 x 6,5 x 4,5 cm; 227,5 g

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

Inv. Ill – 768

14.2. BOX

Silver 9,3 x 10 x 5,6 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

14.3. BOX

Alabaster 15,5 x 22,4 x 15,5 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

15. RELIQUARY

Asia Minor

Second half of the 4th century Silver

L. 4,8 cm; w. 3 cm; h. 2,8 cm

Inscriptions in Greek: on the lid: OMO NOIA (concordance, harmony); next to Jesus and each of the saints presented: IHC OYC HE TP OC, nAT AOC, AN APE AC, OIA[I]HnOC, [IO]Y[A]AC, IAK OB OC, MAOEOC, [BAPOOAOM]E[0]C, JOAN NIC – Jesus, Peter, Paul, Andrew, Philip, Judas, Jacob, Mathew, Bartholomew, John.

Found accidentally in the foundations of a building, possibly a basilica, in the village of Yabalkovo, Haskovo region, in 1930. According to its discoverer bulgaria tour, the silver reliquary was lying in a ceramic container also inscribed, and yet lost before coming to the Museum.

Relief representations of St. St. Constantine the Great and Elena on both sides of a Latin cross on the lid, and Jesus Christ surrounded by nine of his Apostles on the walls of the container.

16. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 4th – 5th century Silver

L. 9,5 cm; max. w. 5 cm; h. 4 cm

Discovered during archaeological excavations of a basilica in Eleshnichka Banya, next to the village of Eleshnitsa, Blagoevgrad region

The silver reliquary was lying in a marble container shaped as a sarcophagus, NIAM – BAS, Inv. N 3767.

17. RELIQUARY

Syria (?)

Late 4th – early 5th century (ca. 363 – 408 AD) Silver gilt

L. 8 cm; w. 8 cm; h. 7 cm

The front wall bears a hammered relief of Chi – Rho monogram, and the Greek letters of A and O be-tween the X hastae. A Chi – Rho monogram was engraved on the backside, and also the Greek letters of A and O below the cross arms.

The reliquary was discovered between two skel-etons in Tomb 3 near the southwest corner, by the apse of the earliest St. Sophia Church in Sofia (Ser- dica) in 1893, during the excavations of Bogdan Filov, It contained remains of decayed cloth and three worn copper coins probably of the sons of Constantine the Great (ca. mid 4th c.).

18. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 5th – 6th century Marble 13 cm; w. 8,2 cm; h. 13,5 cm

Discovered accidentally in a field in 1899, in a brick tomb about 1 m deep, in the altar of Basilica N 5 in Hisar (ancient Diodetianopolis), Plovdiv region.

19. RELIQUARY Syria or Italy (?) 5th – 6th century Ceramics

L. 17,5 cm; w. 11,5 cm; h. 8 cm

Inscription, beginning with a cross and terminat-ing in an ivy leaf, rims along the four walls incised in Latin before baking:

Here are the relics of St. Apostle Thomas and Arch-bishop Babyla and the three infants

An accidental find while ploughing afield next to the village of Perivol, Kyustendil region in 1931. Today Perivol is annexed to the village ofDragov- ishtitsa, Sofia region.

[burgasholidays]

Regional Museum of History

14.1. RELIQUARY

Gold, emeralds, sapphires, inlayed garnets 3,8 x 6,5 x 4,5 cm; 227,5 g

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

Inv. Ill – 768

14.2. BOX

Silver 9,3 x 10 x 5,6 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

14.3. BOX

Alabaster 15,5 x 22,4 x 15,5 cm

Varna, Regional Museum of History,

15. RELIQUARY

Asia Minor

Second half of the 4th century Silver

L. 4,8 cm; w. 3 cm; h. 2,8 cm

Inscriptions in Greek: on the lid: OMO NOIA (concordance, harmony); next to Jesus and each of the saints presented: IHC OYC HE TP OC, nAT AOC, AN APE AC, OIA[I]HnOC, [IO]Y[A]AC, IAK OB OC, MAOEOC, [BAPOOAOM]E[0]C, JOAN NIC – Jesus, Peter, Paul, Andrew, Philip, Judas, Jacob, Mathew, Bartholomew, John.

Found accidentally in the foundations of a building, possibly a basilica, in the village of Yabalkovo, Haskovo region, in 1930. According to its discoverer bulgaria tour, the silver reliquary was lying in a ceramic container also inscribed, and yet lost before coming to the Museum.

Relief representations of St. St. Constantine the Great and Elena on both sides of a Latin cross on the lid, and Jesus Christ surrounded by nine of his Apostles on the walls of the container.

16. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 4th – 5th century Silver

L. 9,5 cm; max. w. 5 cm; h. 4 cm

Discovered during archaeological excavations of a basilica in Eleshnichka Banya, next to the village of Eleshnitsa, Blagoevgrad region

The silver reliquary was lying in a marble container shaped as a sarcophagus, NIAM – BAS, Inv. N 3767.

17. RELIQUARY

Syria (?)

Late 4th – early 5th century (ca. 363 – 408 AD) Silver gilt

L. 8 cm; w. 8 cm; h. 7 cm

The front wall bears a hammered relief of Chi – Rho monogram, and the Greek letters of A and O be-tween the X hastae. A Chi – Rho monogram was engraved on the backside, and also the Greek letters of A and O below the cross arms.

The reliquary was discovered between two skel-etons in Tomb 3 near the southwest corner, by the apse of the earliest St. Sophia Church in Sofia (Ser- dica) in 1893, during the excavations of Bogdan Filov, It contained remains of decayed cloth and three worn copper coins probably of the sons of Constantine the Great (ca. mid 4th c.).

18. RELIQUARY

Eastern Mediterranean 5th – 6th century Marble 13 cm; w. 8,2 cm; h. 13,5 cm

Discovered accidentally in a field in 1899, in a brick tomb about 1 m deep, in the altar of Basilica N 5 in Hisar (ancient Diodetianopolis), Plovdiv region.

19. RELIQUARY Syria or Italy (?) 5th – 6th century Ceramics

L. 17,5 cm; w. 11,5 cm; h. 8 cm

Inscription, beginning with a cross and terminat-ing in an ivy leaf, rims along the four walls incised in Latin before baking:

Here are the relics of St. Apostle Thomas and Arch-bishop Babyla and the three infants

An accidental find while ploughing afield next to the village of Perivol, Kyustendil region in 1931. Today Perivol is annexed to the village ofDragov- ishtitsa, Sofia region.