In Byzantine society, reliquary and amulet holders, such as this beautiful example, would generally have contained tiny scrolls made from silver and bronze, with protective spells or prayers inscribed upon them. These may have been worn to protect the owner in everyday life, but have also been found in funerary contexts, suggesting their apotropaic purpose was likely believed to extend to the afterlife.
To discover more about Byzantine jewellery, please visit our relevant blog post: The Byzantine Empire: Art and Christianity.
