Monday, June 9, 2008

The History of Byzantine Crosses

The history of Byzantine crosses began with St. Constantine, who was the fourth century Emperor of the Roman Empire. St. Constantine was integral in the Christianization of the Roman Empire and he came up with the capital of Constantinople in Byzantium. This new era that Byzantium was being able to influence was also helping to influence others in numerous other ways in addition.

Byzantium was to experience a new time that was to never be in seeing again and what greatly made an impact on this culture were the areas of art, architecture, and of course jewelry. Jewelry did indeed reflect the changing times towards Christianity and the acceptance of the Roman Empire by this new form of religion on all fronts. In the key areas that were in mention, art, architecture, and jewelry, the Romans, the Greeks and also Christians was in doing of personal contributions where these areas were the most inspirational to them.

The Byzantine crosses from this early period are not just very pleasing to the eye because of their overall eye appeal. In addition, because they are inspirational in that they represent faith due to their ancient symbols of Christian belief in God. The Byzantine jewelry medallions are just as equally as exquisite from a captivating viewpoint. These Byzantine crosses also represent spirituality, which is the essence of what faith is all about.

Byzantine crosses also symbolize a very important place to those culturally as well. They are everything that seems to unlock the mysteries. That is in association with all that is in involvement with the mysteries that surround our universe and death as a rule. Crosses of any kind are the thing that most Christians keep close to their hearts because to them it signifies their faith and the presence of God within their lives per se. These sacred crosses and or pendants are the things that are tangible and something whose reality means a lot to Christians that feel secure and happy in knowing that they are in close contact with.

Gold and silver jewelry, which includes crosses and whatever else, give a Christian not only an affinity with God, but it also gives each person a sense of ethnic identity, religious conviction, appreciation for religion overall, and last but not least a feeling of social standing amid others. Byzantine crosses can come either in gold or silver or in gold, silver, and other precious metals. They can contain precious stones or not contain precious stones in addition.

0 comments:

Share

Twitter Delicious Facebook Digg Stumbleupon Favorites