E02831: Bronze cross with a Greek inscription invoking the help of *John (presumably the Baptist, S00020, or the Apostle and Evangelist, S00042). Provenance unknown, probably southeastern Mediterranean. Late antique.

Bronze cross pattée (with arms that broaden out towards the ends) within a disc, probably from a processional cross (similar to that from Jerusalem, discussed in E02735).

The disc bears the following inscription, suggesting that it was offered to a sanctuary of John the Evangelist or John the Baptist by a woman called Christina:

ἅγιε Ἰωάννη, ἐλέισων τὴν δούλιν σου Χριστήναν

'Saint John, have mercy upon your servant Christina!'

The arms of the cross bear another inscription (it seems that the central omega was omitted by the engraver):

ζ
φ <ῶ> ς
ή

'Light, life.'

Text: Mondésert 1960, 117.

The provenance of the cross is unknown. It was auctioned in Paris, on 11/12 June 1959 and listed in the catalogue of that auction as no. 173. Based on a photograph in the catalogue, the inscription was published in 1960 by Claude Mondésert. In 1961 it was recorded in the Bulletin épigraphique by Louis Robert.

The editors of the catalogue vaguely ascribed the object to Syria/Phoenicia or Egypt.